Author’s Note: If a person wants another example of how freedom of speech is being altered to the benefit of the select few, here’s one worth chewing- when you write a letter to the editor to a local newspaper, only for the editor to leave out certain (but also very important points) because of the concept of limiting the amount of words per article. Granted limitations are necessary to prevent guest writers from writing novels of work. However, such limitations can result in the meaning of the work being either destroyed or altered, thus putting the author in a position of humiliation, being asked what the point was or what garbage was he writing. An example of this came from a recent letter to the editor from a local newspaper in Minnesota, where the writer went into detail, only for the editor to not only gut it but also alter it, causing confusion, while at the same time, angering the author. The shortened version is here, whereas the uncut version is below.
Having lived away from the US for almost 20 years and settled down in Germany, I usually try and stay out of politics as much as I can. I usually follow the events from my hometown newspaper in Minnesota and for some reason, I happen to reach the letters to the editor section of the newspaper, where people write and bash other people, especially when it comes to politics. Sometimes the letters to the editor I read in my hometown newspaper are absurd and mind-scratching. How we waste our time complaining about people and bashing political parties instead of being a united community is beyond me.
Yet after over a decade absence from writing a letter to the editor, I feel it is time to speak out, asking everyone if they have either looked at themselves in the mirror or have read their writing before having the editor of the Pilot post it online and in print. Because what I have seen in American media is nothing but World Championship Writing (I elect to use Writing instead of Wrestling) where instead of body-slamming, choke-slamming and suplex slamming people, we are seeing people slamming each other in the media. And while our illustrious „President“ indulges in this type of mayhem- after all, he does it everyday with Twitter- this type of turmoil is turning us off every day by the thousands, both in America as well as abroad.
As I write this, I’m reminded of the ice shelves in Greenland and Antarctica breaking up in large chunks, causing sea levels to rise and storms of biblical proportions to ravage even our own backyards. Not a single farmer will be able to plant their crops this year because the fields are either under water or too wet. We’ve set the record for the warmest temperatures for 18 out of the last 20 years, with tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths attributed to heat stroke, cancer and other dangerous ailments. Our oceans are covered in plastic, and marine life is fading faster than what scientists have even expected. Depression and drug use are on the exponential rise. I don’t think I’ll remind you about a friend, classmate or family member you know who died of opiod overdose. I‘ve lost two in five years. And yes, lest we not forget that the US has become a gun republic, where instead of constructive face-to-face conversations about issues we have, we have either social media, the gun or both. Sadly, most of us elect both.
And what do we have in response? The NRA? Hillary’s e-mail scandal? Trump’s collusion with Russia? Elizabeth Warren’s claim of being Pocahontas? Stormy Daniels? Facebook and Privacy? All of this in the newspapers or social media or even both. Again, we unfortunately elect to choose both weapons instead of seeing what’s going on outside our homes and jobs.
My intention is to bash neither the liberal nor the conservative, no matter how extreme we are. I have as many friends and family on the left as they are on the right, both in the States as well as abroad. And I’ve respected the opinions and stances of both, even though I have my own political views (which I will keep private- my choice). What I really ask of you is to just simply knock it off. Quit this garbage! What’s done is done! Water under the bridge! Finito! We should be more concerned with what’s going on around us and what we can do to right the ship and move forward.
The United States has been a leader in advanced science and technology, international
relations and even environmental policies that have been in place since Obama and are still working even as Trump tries to dismantle it and deny what is going on in our world. And while Trump continues to play golf at Mara Lago, twittering and slamming other people regardless of color, gender, religion and even sexual preferences, let’s just simply do our part and show the rest of the country and the world that we are better than this.
It all starts with two of the most important dates that will dictate our future: November 3, 2020 but more importantly, right now. What will you do to make a difference? I hope it’s the right thing that everyone will be happy with.
Thank you.
As agreed beforehand, the name of the newspaper was left out and some parts altered to protect its identity and prevent any problems on the part of the writer. However, the difference shows really well.
THE FLENSBURG FILES 