Getting Ideas and Then Writing

I’ve been asked where I get my ideas for the pieces I write. They seem to follow no rhyme or reason and a few were entirely out of left field. let me explain by saying that I’ve been a reader since my mother introduced me to the Waco Public Library at the age of seven. I read everything I could legally check out and the habit has stuck with me through all these years (more than I’d like to admit to). I frequent a used book store in Aurora almost on a weekly basis and the owner knows me by name. Try that in Barnes & Noble.

I also read a lot of on-line newspapers, news sites, blog sites, discussion groups and even a few fishing sites. My taste in newspapers run from the Denver Post to the New York Times, Cleave land Plains Dealer, Washington Post, San Jose mercury News and a few from other countries. They have showed me one thing, all newspapers aren’t created equal as news sites aren’t created equal and distort the news in favor of one political party or the other. One newspaper, which shall remain nameless, writes the news to show their local police force in the best of light. Another won’t write a bad word about Democrats. I’ve learned to read between the lines and sort out what is news worthy and what goes in the circular file.

More than a few of the pieces I’ve written, I don’t just write for Triond, has earned me spears and barbs and even a death threat or two when all I write is my opinion. Opinions are like arm pits, everybody has one and is entitled to them. I may not agree with everyone but they are entitled to their opinion and expect the same from them. Rest assured that if anyone writes an opinion piece, there will be someone out there who will disagree. I enjoy a lively discussion but when the other person insults me, calls me names (more than a few I’d never heard before and I’m a Navy vet) then the discussion digresses into a shouting match (all caps).  I tend to ignore those people and move on because they are closed minded.

When Obama was campaigning for president, I pointed out that he was being groomed and handled behind the scenes; for this I was called racist and a bigit. As it turns out, I was right before national columinists started writing the same thing but they were allowed to because they had a national audience and newspaper lawyers behind them. I was against the bank bailout but we got little valuable information about the scheme, I read the straight scoop from a foreign newspaper, one that had economists explain what would happen and who would benefit. It turned out that they were correct.

Opinion pieces are fun to write, you just have to remember that politicians always have something to hide and will sue at the drop of a hat. On the plus side, your opinion is your own and is protected by the 1st Amendment, that is until the Supreme Court trashes that also. I always make it clear that the opinions expressed are mine alone, that helps a little with legalities. With that point made, let the words flow and get whatever is bothering you off your chest. There was a case in Ft. Collins several years ago about a student who vented his frustrations against a certain instructor in an on-line newspaper he created himself. The instructor sued under a little know law that was 120 years old, forcing the student to cease publication. His computers were seized and a restraining order issued against him but he had his day in court and won. His computers were returned and the restraining order lifted. The ACLU had gotten involved and in less than a day convinced the judge that it was a violation of the student’s 1st Amendment rights. The instructor had to pay all court costs. Justice done.

I point that out to show the point that if you think you are right, go for it, me, I’m seen my 66th birthday and little scares me now, especially someone who feels offended by something I say. Besides, I read it somewhere and would be able to find it again. But I don’t take everything I read as gospel, I need to confirm it from another source and perhaps even a third. Then I’d feel comfortable writing about it, or him or her. By that time other sites have picked up on it and I’m only adding fuel to the fire.

Feel like saying something, say it and be proud of what you write.