It's easy to overlook or take for granted what is unique about Open Salon.

If you visit other opinion sites, very often you find the ability to comment quite limited: either monitors play a heavy hand or the comments to an article can be hidden away and difficult to find.

But I would say that on Open Salon the comments people make on each other's articles (or blogs) are featured in a way as to make them almost as important as the articles themselves -- and just as fun or informative to read.

Now I know this is nothing new to anyone here, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I appreciate this.

To this relatively new observer, Open Salon seems truly open.  Frankly, I think it's a compliment to everyone here, even when discussions can get a little heated.

So if you see one of my comments and it leads you to read these words, know that even if we disagree strongly on something I don't take lightly my freedom to comment.  I see it as a privilege granted not only by the editors of Open Salon but by the many gifted writers who reside here.

Much thanks.