This week�s election results were not a surprise to those of us who try to play a part in the struggle for economic justice, social justice and peace.

The election of candidates who wish to roll back decades of social and economic progress are a reflection of the reality we confront every day.

As a founder of BlackCommentator.com, I saw issue 400 coming with a combination of pride and exhaustion. If you, like me, are a person who is dedicated to positive change, then you are also a person who has a positive attitude. I sometimes joke that it should not surprise anyone that my blood type is B+.

400 is a big number � we think it is a significant number. We have gotten there because of the superb writing contributions of our Editorial Board members, columnists and guest commentators. We would not be here today without the support of our readers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 144 other countries. Readers support us financially and pass links to BC around the World Wide Web.

We want to say to you, at this time, that right now is a point in history when people like us must dig into our souls and get hold of the energy we need to continue the struggle.

This is not the time for desolation. It is time to stand and fight for what is right. BC is continuing on. We will not give up.

We will also continue to ask for your financial support, please click on the either of the buttons below to buy a subscription or make a donation to BC.

Who we are and who we will continue to be is a function of our commitment to diversity.

BC will continue to present opposing commentaries. We do not speak with one, cohesive voice of the �Progressive Black Community,� because there cannot possibly be just one voice of the Progressive Black Community, nor any other group of people, as long as there is a reverence for freedom of thought and speech.

We do not and will not take a narrow editorial stand and publish only that which falls within some predetermined editorial opinion. Perhaps that is true of other publications both on the web and in print, but it is not true of BlackCommentator.com. In fact, it is contrary to our core belief of what BC should provide to our readers.

At BlackCommentator.com, we firmly believe that it is through discussion and debate of divergent opinions that we gain in understanding, and therefore may be brought closer together - not that we will come to speak with one voice on every issue, but we will grow in our critical thinking.

We believe action is necessary and is coming. We promise to do our part to provide a clear understanding of what confronts us.

Again, we thank you for your readership and financial support of BlackCommentator.com. We value each of your communications as we, collectively, continue the struggle.

BlackCommentator.com Publisher and Chief Technical Officer Peter Gamble, is the recipient of a national Sigma Delta Chi award for public service in journalism and numerous other honors for excellence in reporting and investigative reporting. The �beats� he covered as a broadcast journalist ranged from activism in the streets to the State Department and White House. The lure of a personal computer on his desk inspired a career change in 1985 and an immersion into what he saw as the future of communications. The acquisition of computer programming skills made it possible for Peter to achieve an important level of self-reliance in the technology of the 21st century and to develop BlackCommentator.com. Click here to contact Peter.