I just found out that some of our oldest (longest term) and dearest Kossacks have recently been laid off or resigned. Apparently It came up in the comments in the diary about the Second DK Site Maintenance with the recent update. I had no idea.
I wanted to take a moment to thank these amazing people who have been such a staple of this community for my entire duration here.
TrueBlueMajority. All I know is she greeted me like a friend the first time I poked my nose in. I have learned so much from her. She has mothered and sistered so many of us throughout, always working toward the goals of DK. (You would be surprised the funny things I remember that you taught me.)
Elfling, I’ve never really understood exactly what your job was, but I pictured you in an imaginary janitor’s office in the downstairs of the old school building, keeping things running and fixing things here and there. Checking in with comments now and then, always with your eye on stuff.
Hunter, just right on the edge, always, of the critical news, making it personal, day after day.
Jay, all the little ways you kept things going, so cordially. Greeting new people and introducing the rules of the road, but only after leaving a lovely and meaningful comment or paragraph in response to their first comment. Who will do that now?
Honestly, I can hardly imagine this place without you. Without any of you. But I get it, this is out of my hands, and I am not writing this to start a negative thing. I am here to honor you. I have never told a single one of you (maybe TBM) how much I appreciate what you do (did.) How aware I have been of your role here. How I feel like I know each of you personally, elfling, Hunter, Jay, and TBM.
Thank you. I wish the best for you. You will be missed. And remembered.
For the record:
I really do have concerns about honest journalism in these days and months to come. I have concerns about having a safe place to share concerns with like-minded people. Daily Kos is important. And it is rare. Do we need to do more to protect this community? Can we do more?
Daily Kos is not my only news source, of course, but it is where I go for verification of many issues and happenings. I usually find it (verification), often after some lively discussion! I can’t imagine a world without it. These four people gave DK such warmth and civility. I hope we can continue that in their absence.
* I just learned that we have also lost Jen Hayden and Laura Clawson as well. : ( I guess those departures may have come earlier, but I was not aware of them. Oh, friends, we will miss you!