I had a life-altering event this week that to anyone else may be the epitome of insignificance. To me, though, it made all the difference and I hope the message can be of influence. A woman and leader whom I admire very much when asked to chime in on a hot political issue last week simply said, she did not want to contribute to the speech that simply throws out empty words and shuts down real communication and compromise.
Did she mean me? Do I do that in my articles? I shrugged it off but before long those words were back. She was right, especially about compromise. It’s a word that has not been coming up often in modern politics but that used to make the whole free world work. I reflected on what I had been writing. I have always thought of writing a political column as a responsibility. An article should be a venue through which a writer can interject facts for families who don’t have time during the week to scour through documents and periodicals to get the real low down on politics.
The writer’s role in recent decades has become more and more a tool for the partisan rhetorician, who in their work lays out one party line or the other allowing the owner of the venue to reap the benefit from the praised subject of the article. This is not new however. Think of James Callendar who it was speculated was Thomas Jefferson’s personal newsman during his race against John Adams. When Jefferson won he released Callendar, whom had been arrested under the Alien and Sedition Act for writing against the state. When Jefferson would not hook Callendar up with a sweet presidential appointment Callendar turned on Jefferson and the world at large came to know, “Monticellan Sal.”
I am often frustrated when my words, which I am careful to craft, are taken out of context or a reader fixates on one sentence to form a conclusion that is flat out wrong. John Adams, while serving as an attorney in Boston defended the British Officers charged in the murders of Patrick Carr, Crispus Attucks, and several others during what the public called the Boston Massacre.
During the trial, fragments of the Sons of Liberty tried to use the negative public perception against the British to influence the outcome of the case with whooping, hollering, threats, and coercion. In light of the lack of civility was heard by Adams, “Facts are Stubborn Things.” I am sure that every writer goes through a phase where his or her voice changes because they begin reading and putting stock in the comments and exchanges taking place about their articles. We cannot help it. As human beings we want to be accepted and liked. Maybe if I censor my criticism of Republicans people will know that I am moderate. Perhaps if I criticize Democrats, people will know I am not a blind party man.
Does every good writer come out on the other end though and reflect on what makes them take up a pen each week? For me it is an unyielding love of Country and an insatiable frustration as to the state of current affairs. Our political system is inoperable and it is leading to a frozen economy, senseless policy and lack of policy, and a lack of civil public discourse always before essential to the progress of our Country. There are hardly ever discussions about ideas that would fix ou
