I would very much appreciate some input from the readers of the Newburyport Political Blog, some wise men and women if you will. You could email or call me, which would be off the record, off the blog, which I would want all thoughts on this subject matter to be. Also if you see me on the street or someplace like the supermarket, take me aside and let me know how you feel and what your thoughts on the matter might be.

My question is this: when tragedy strikes in our community, what would be an appropriate way for the blog to handle the circumstance. This is not a newspaper or a local journal, and there aren’t very many local political blogs out there like this one (in fact I can find any yet) to give an example.

I think one of the worst things is not to acknowledge tragedy and loss. On the other hand, I don’t know if a blog would be a particularly appropriate place to do that. Also, I am wondering if in a tragedy that affects our community, whether it might be prudent for the blog to be silent for a certain amount of time.

I would appreciate all feedback because I really, really don’t know what would be appropriate for the Newburyport Political Blog in a circumstance like this.

Thank you so much.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport