Yesterday I received the official announcement that I was the winner of the Inaugural Monty Miller Award presented to me by Atheist Nexus I must say that I am somewhat humbled by the experience. I didn’t set out to win any awards with my blogging (some readers may even raise an eyebrow, having had my inconsistent editing thrust at them), how many bloggers really do? It is, however, a wonderful experience to have the praise of your peers.
I have won the award for a number of reasons – campaigning against the Australian Vaccination Network, working to try and get Australian and New Zealand bloggers together and for my commitment to the Mercy Ministries Fiasco.
I am required to write a short essay or blog post upon winning the award (this is not it) but I wanted to to get in early with some thanks to some very special people, without whose help the Mercy Ministries Fiasco, may never have reached the conclusion that it did.
So thanks to
- The Mercy Survivors, especially those that had the wherewithal to break the story
- Ruth Pollard – who I have never met, but who had restored my hope for investigative journalism
- The Mercy Insiders all around the world that continue to pass on what information they can
- Tanya Levin – for her advice and humour.
- Cynic Sage, a Christian blogger with a conscience, who lost his YouTube account as a result of his support
- John Weaver at Against Biblical Counselling, for sending me the Restoring the Foundations manual, and his astute observations and support
- The American Mercy Survivors, Vicky, Anna who tried without success to get the American media to expose Mercy where it has been causing hurt for 25 years
- Thanks to my readers and to those who having being informed about Mercy’s behavior, did something
- And to those who I have missed and to those who still live in fear
Here’s to hoping that 2010 will bring better things for all of us.
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How gratifying to have all your work recognized – Congratulations! And best wishes in the New Year, too
Thanks for commenting. Makes me think I should lift my game somewhat
Hope you have fun with family tomorow
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Global Atheist and SeandBlogonaut, JulianaMarie. JulianaMarie said: RT @seandblogonaut Winning the Monty Miller Award http://bit.ly/6mf3mv [...]
Congratulatons Sean! No-one more deserving. But you can't rest on your laurels now, kiddo – we have a big year ahead of us in 2010!
Can I have tomorrow off?
Hey, congratulations. Long may you continue to blog. A boost to the ego is often all one needs for encouragement to go the extra mile. Good luck for 2010's posts.
I agree, it does bring a sense of responsibility with it – like I now have to live up to something
. Monty Miller though sounds like he has big boots
Congrats and a hearty HOORAY! Looking forward to more good reading in 2010!
Congrats Sean!!! You so deserve it. And thank you again for giving all of the Mercy Survivors a voice.
I think I prefer to see it as facilitation. I don't like the concept of empowerment for that to me sounds as though I have given power back to them. I like to think I participated in helping them see how powerful they were, are, and can be.
But thanks
What an honour Sean to recieve such an illustrious award. Now Monty was a real hero in every sense of the word and there are more in the history of this country than the status quo ever acknowledge. There is such a need too in these times and hope that the conference next year may be the beginning of a more dynamic and honest public conversation. As the great Australian writer Christina Stead once said (another marginalised thinker) "Hope springs infernal"
I think that Monty will have to feature in my history of Australian Freethought posts.
I am personally worried for what 2010 holds for Australia. We have a government and opposition front brench that have a significant representation from the old firm and two leaders who like having religious dick swinging contests oh and an internet filter that the Greens seem to have folded on in "supporting amendments" . We need an army of Monty Millers
Congratulations. Your persistence on the Mercy Ministries story was commendable. I'm glad you were recognized for it.
Persistance is right. Some may say unhealthy obsession
Congratulations! Well deserved.
Congrats.
Yes I will have to go on a self promoting tour of the internets