Blog-Out in Support of C.J. Grisham and Freedom of Milblogging

Today the milblog community unites to show support for a courageous soldier-blogger-citizen, C.J. Grisham.

The reason for the blog-out is twofold.

First, milblogs now confront an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. Some commands not only are failing to support blogging, but also aggressively are acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their own activities, but also for those of their spouses and supporters.

The catalyst has been the mistreatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier's Perspective. The esteemed C.J. has earned accolades from the White House on down for his honest and sometimes blunt discussion of important issues -- particularly PTSD. In the last few months, C.J. was targeted for harassment by Alabama school officials, who successfully enlisted C.J.'s military command to assist their assault on the off-duty C.J. The relentless attack has forced C.J. to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense.

An excellent story on the situation with C.J. can be found at Military Times.

But this isn't just about C.J. The very nature of milblogs are at stake. Milblogs have been vital to providing context, analysis, and information critical to the Republic. They must be preserved and protected.

Today, 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. If you support the blog-out, please contact your elected representatives in Congress, and let them know where you stand. Please also get in touch with your favorite milbloggers, and let them know you support this important mission.

Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December.
A Partial List of Participating Blogs:

This Ain't Hell /
Boston Maggie
Blackfive
Miss Ladybug
Drunken Wisdom /
Grim's Hall /
Frommyposition
CDR Salamander

Meanwhile, to join the good fight:
Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write "Grisham Legal Fund" in the memo line.