Twenty years of being a publisher of daily newspapers, where I have written hundreds of editorials and personal columns, of which quite a few have generated public criticism, have served to thicken my skin to fend off vicious attacks of what I have written.
The objective of most editorials is to get people to act or, at least, to think about an issue that the writer thinks is important. The purpose of a personal column is more diverse. The writer can appeal to people to respond in some way, try to inform readers or, perhaps, just attempt to entertain them.
Last week I wrote about 9/11 conspiracy theories. My purpose was to inform readers about how this issue has become a worldwide phenomenon. And, I suggested that it wouldn”t hurt for everyone to at least be aware of what is being said on the matter. Seeing the 9/11 documentary “Loose Change” on television was what prompted the column.
I have been amazed at the response that the column has generated, both positive and negative. I have gotten many “thank you” messages from people who strongly believe that the official government investigation of 9/11 was just whitewash. I have even received invitations to events in which Dylan Avery, the “Loose Change” filmmaker, will be appearing to discuss his documentary.
Of course, I have also received a number of extremely critical messages and some folks even chose to write letters-to-the-editor to let me have it.
In the one I like the most, the writer let me know that “If you are tarred and feathered and run out of town, I”ll be on the sidelines cheering.”
In the history of the United States, the act of tarring and feathering someone has never been a legal form of punishment. It was used by vigilante groups, who took the law into their own hands, often to persecute people of minority groups, such as race or religious affiliation. Surely, in 2009, no group is going to tar and feather the publisher of the local newspaper, are they?
A couple of weeks ago I took my wife and daughter to the theater to see “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. It is a wonderful movie. I enjoyed it so much that I did some research into the origin of the story and discovered it is a 1922 F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. His most famous work was “The Great Gatsby”. While living, Fitzgerald thought of himself only as a novelist. He felt like he prostituted his skills as a writer by providing short stories for newspapers and magazines. But, he had to pay the bills.
Here is a letter that he received from a person who read his short story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” in Colliers magazine, when it was originally published. “Sir, I have read the story Benjamin Button in Colliers and I wish to say that as a short story writer you would make a good lunatic. I have seen many pieces of cheese in my life, but of all the pieces of cheese I have ever seen you are the biggest piece. I hate to waste a piece of stationery on you, but I will.” At least we now have e-mail.
This week, the Oscar nominations were announced. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” received 13 Academy Award nominations. Not bad for a story written by the biggest piece of cheese.
I don”t want anyone to think I am comparing myself to the great F. Scott Fitzgerald. I only want to make the point that what one person calls garbage, other people may find thought provoking, educational or entertaining.
But, the best lesson of this past week is that, as Americans, we all have the freedom to write or say what we think, within certain limits, even if it is unflattering to the government, or to an individual citizen, including a newspaper publisher.
Gary Dickson is the publisher of the Record-Bee. He can be reached at gdickson@record-bee.com or called direct at 263-5636 ext. 24.
