“To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.” Frederick Douglass
I’d like to address the comments section on Break Free. I value free speech. I don’t block anyone or delete comments unless they express violence towards me or others, or use such abusive, offensive language that it overtakes all reasonable discussion.
I don’t get offended if people disagree with me. I value robust debate.
Personally, I don’t swear. A lot of people do. I am not going to delete comments with swear words, again, unless it becomes abusive. For example, recently, someone made a comment directed at me where they said, “screw you”. I don’t really care. I rarely delete antisemitic remarks. I believe, especially lately, that it’s important to keep them as a testimony to the times we live in.
I have people from all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities that read Break Free, and this makes me happy. Not everyone is going to talk in the same way nor is everyone going to agree with each other all the time.
Some people express shock when I am telling a story and I include the actual words that a person said, and those words are not very nice. Well, that’s reality. I will not change the truth to make it seem more palatable.
Break Free now averages between 70,000 to 80,000 views a month and the comments are becoming more numerous. I also get emails and comments on other platforms. I try to keep up with it all and respond as much as possible. However, I’m not always able to and sometimes I miss comments that perhaps I should respond to. I apologize for that.
For example, right now my 3-year-old grandson is jumping on my lap telling me he wants to see firetrucks on my computer. A bit distracting!
Anyway, I cannot tell you all how much I appreciate the time everyone takes to comment. I learn a lot from the information you share and when you encourage me, it keeps me going!
One more thing, I’ve been organizing my writing into sections to make it easier for people to find essays on certain topics. If you look at the top of Break Free’s Home page, you will see headings. So far, I have:
Break Free Podcast (there’s one that says “Podcast”, too, but I don’t know how to get rid of it!).
Inspirational Essays: for a period of time, I was writing this series, which I’ve now replaced with Reflections for a Sunday.
The Egypt Files: I am working on this section, writing chapters about my adventures living in Luxor, Egypt, including how I started the first boxing club for girls in Luxor.
Of War & Peace: This mostly has to do with the Ukraine War, and I still need to add my writing on the war in Gaza there as well.
Reflections for a Sunday: This replaced my Inspirational Essays, and I’m really enjoying writing these weekly, or every other week (depending on how much time I have), pieces.
I will probably add a section on Technology & Bitcoin and one on Health & Covid, or something like that—as soon as I can get around to it.
Oh, one more thing. I do not have a paywall. This is because I want my writing to be accessible to everyone, not just people who agree with me. If I had a paywall, many people who have come to read my work likely would not have done so.
For this reason, I greatly value my paid subscribers. It’s because of your support that I am able to make my writing available to everyone, and that I am able to spend the long hours needed to research, write and record all my essays, articles and interviews. Thank you so much!
Please don't censor yourself, Karen. Thank you for your thoughtful, intelligent and eye-opening posts. No need to apologize for missing comments. Your writing is a gift, and using that gift is far more important than "holding our hands" :). Well, maybe your writing is its own form of handholding in the best of ways.
I enjoy your Essays. There is so much thought and research that goes into your Essays. I have learned a lot by reading your work and others. I have to make myself getup from the computer and do other things (exercise, mow, laundry...). This awakening can become overwhelming at times, and I have to free my mind. One of your other essays you asked what keeps your spirit up, and you offered your faith. I was not religious, but my Mother was her whole life. I wanted to please her and I respected her so much, I thought, why can't I believe like her. I have started watching your fathers sermons. They are very good. My Mom would be happy about that.
The last few of your Essays I read while my oil was being changed in my car. I was on my tablet and I cannot manage well on there, so I did no comment. Excellent articles about Women today and these mixed up college kids.
I've had a hard time with faith. I've been asking questions I can't answer since I was a little girl, questions my dad never adequately answered for me. I haven't written about the complexities of my relationship with my father, maybe one day I will. Of course, as a child, it was the same as you describe with your mother. I wanted to please my parents, especially my dad, as he was such a larger-than-life figurehead. As I grew older, and being a person with an inquiring mind that never stopped, I wasn't content to just believe something because I had been raised that way. How could I know I really believed it and I hadn't just been brainwashed. These were my honest thoughts.
But in the end (and it took many years filled with many life experiences to come to that end), I realized that there is no greater truth, nothing else makes sense except my faith in Jesus, even though I still don't have all the answers and never will in this life. I'm so glad you enjoy my essays. I'm thankful for your presence here and your support.
Karen, I am so glad I discovered you. Your essays teach me about things I never knew. You value life in all its facets and I appreciate that. Keep writing and being open with your thoughts and feelings. Lots of love! 💖
Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Just like most everyone, I don't always agree, but I'm always pushed to think about different things and question my own biases. Plus you often tell me about things about which I was previously ignorant, and a few times wish I'd stayed that way. (Grin). Sadly, sometimes I do swear, but find that I'm uncomfortable in doing so when I comment. Different strokes for different folks. Generally, I'm not offended unless the attacks are personal or just downright nasty. However, I'm glad you don't censor. After all, nice speech doesn't need to be defended. I'm grateful that I can support your work financially; I certainly get my money's worth.
Karen - keep doing what you do. Interesting writing. I keep reading because you write well and I appreciate your perspective on many, even most, topics. Do I agree with everything you write? Of course not. I disagree with your take on Bitcoin for example.(it's a deep rabbit hole to be sure and I think some important bits went "whoosh" over your head ;) And so what? Does anyone agree with everything another says?
Re: comments. A certain degree of civility in the comments is to be expected. I would say don't hesitate to trim uncivil comments.
Thank you. I hear what you're saying. It might come to the day--maybe sooner rather than later--when I will have to trim more than I do. I don't like doing it, so, I will take it a day at a time.
I cannot tell you how much I look forward to your posts. I value your world view, and your world experiences. You write with passion, and compassion, and I believe with truth. Most of all I value your willingness to express your opinions freely and allow your readers to do the same. And I’m sure 99.99% of us agree, that abuse, name calling, and denigration should never be tolerated. Thank you, and thanks to your great community of readers whose comments are always enlightening, sometimes funny, and always worth reading!
Karen: Please keep doing what you are doing. I find your messages informative, motivating and FACTUAL. If people get offended, then I would say that is on them. I deeply appreciate your articles. Keep on gettin up. Be safe and be well. Bubba
Please don't censor yourself, Karen. Thank you for your thoughtful, intelligent and eye-opening posts. No need to apologize for missing comments. Your writing is a gift, and using that gift is far more important than "holding our hands" :). Well, maybe your writing is its own form of handholding in the best of ways.
Thank you. That's a wonderful way of putting it.
I enjoy your Essays. There is so much thought and research that goes into your Essays. I have learned a lot by reading your work and others. I have to make myself getup from the computer and do other things (exercise, mow, laundry...). This awakening can become overwhelming at times, and I have to free my mind. One of your other essays you asked what keeps your spirit up, and you offered your faith. I was not religious, but my Mother was her whole life. I wanted to please her and I respected her so much, I thought, why can't I believe like her. I have started watching your fathers sermons. They are very good. My Mom would be happy about that.
The last few of your Essays I read while my oil was being changed in my car. I was on my tablet and I cannot manage well on there, so I did no comment. Excellent articles about Women today and these mixed up college kids.
I've had a hard time with faith. I've been asking questions I can't answer since I was a little girl, questions my dad never adequately answered for me. I haven't written about the complexities of my relationship with my father, maybe one day I will. Of course, as a child, it was the same as you describe with your mother. I wanted to please my parents, especially my dad, as he was such a larger-than-life figurehead. As I grew older, and being a person with an inquiring mind that never stopped, I wasn't content to just believe something because I had been raised that way. How could I know I really believed it and I hadn't just been brainwashed. These were my honest thoughts.
But in the end (and it took many years filled with many life experiences to come to that end), I realized that there is no greater truth, nothing else makes sense except my faith in Jesus, even though I still don't have all the answers and never will in this life. I'm so glad you enjoy my essays. I'm thankful for your presence here and your support.
Karen, I am so glad I discovered you. Your essays teach me about things I never knew. You value life in all its facets and I appreciate that. Keep writing and being open with your thoughts and feelings. Lots of love! 💖
I've so appreciated you over the years! I'm so glad we found each other. God bless you!
I am looking forward to meeting you one day, Karen. 🙌🏻💞
That will be amazing.
Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Just like most everyone, I don't always agree, but I'm always pushed to think about different things and question my own biases. Plus you often tell me about things about which I was previously ignorant, and a few times wish I'd stayed that way. (Grin). Sadly, sometimes I do swear, but find that I'm uncomfortable in doing so when I comment. Different strokes for different folks. Generally, I'm not offended unless the attacks are personal or just downright nasty. However, I'm glad you don't censor. After all, nice speech doesn't need to be defended. I'm grateful that I can support your work financially; I certainly get my money's worth.
Thank you so much Nancy 🙏
Karen - keep doing what you do. Interesting writing. I keep reading because you write well and I appreciate your perspective on many, even most, topics. Do I agree with everything you write? Of course not. I disagree with your take on Bitcoin for example.(it's a deep rabbit hole to be sure and I think some important bits went "whoosh" over your head ;) And so what? Does anyone agree with everything another says?
Re: comments. A certain degree of civility in the comments is to be expected. I would say don't hesitate to trim uncivil comments.
Thank you. I hear what you're saying. It might come to the day--maybe sooner rather than later--when I will have to trim more than I do. I don't like doing it, so, I will take it a day at a time.
I cannot tell you how much I look forward to your posts. I value your world view, and your world experiences. You write with passion, and compassion, and I believe with truth. Most of all I value your willingness to express your opinions freely and allow your readers to do the same. And I’m sure 99.99% of us agree, that abuse, name calling, and denigration should never be tolerated. Thank you, and thanks to your great community of readers whose comments are always enlightening, sometimes funny, and always worth reading!
Thank you. This means a lot to me.
Karen: Please keep doing what you are doing. I find your messages informative, motivating and FACTUAL. If people get offended, then I would say that is on them. I deeply appreciate your articles. Keep on gettin up. Be safe and be well. Bubba
Thank you!