The Crooked Halo column
by Joann H. Buchanan
CENSORSHIP
National Journalist Dennis Michael Lynch was recently cut off on his own show for speaking his mind. Let me repeat that. One of the top rated news journalist was recently cut off the air for speaking his own mind. His show was hugely popular with posts that reached over sixty million views on Facebook. He gave a voice to all sides and even went so far as call out people when he had facts to prove they were wrong. Love him or hate him, he was at least honest.
Why am I writing about this?
The answer is simple. This is all about CENSORSHIP.
As authors we have a responsibility to always fight against this term no matter what we’re writing. We owe it not only to ourselves but to our readers to produce the most honest points of view no matter what we’re writing. Some say that rhetoric has no place in civilized society. I say that all rhetoric has a place in our society no matter how uncomfortable or rude it sounds.
The idea that we would censor ourselves based on some archaic notion of political correctness is not only wrong but has no place in a free thinking society. Uncomfortable words and conversations need to be had not only about the past but about the present as well if we don’t want to repeat the horrible history we all know exists. Shoving things under a rug or trying to rewrite history because you don’t like the outcome doesn’t do a single thing to move society forward.
For example, some not-so-beautiful things about history that have largely been forgotten:
1 Democrats were for slavery.
2 Democrats started the KKK
3 Democrats were against the civil rights movement and bill.
Are we seeing a pattern here?
Whenever a journalist, an author or an editor caves into the demands of whatever politically correct notion there is at the time, we rob all our readers and listeners of allowing them to come to their own conclusion about how they feel. This leads to distrust of not only the sources but of the very heart of what this country is about.
We all have favorite characters we like to write and worlds we love to play in. The thing is that if we constantly romanticize any issue or situation we are telling nothing but lies. The best stories that have ever existed are always sprinkled with truth that we can relate to.
The last place censorship and biased opinions belong is in the news. It’s because of censorship we are now all guilty of feeling conspiracies exist around every corner. It’s because of lies and half truths we feel like the world is going to hell. Covering up a story because it shines a difficult light on a certain person or group is the same as lying.
How does this apply to fiction authors?
Simple. This part is actually the easiest and yet the most controversial part of writing.
If you have a character who is racist, then he or she is racist. Don’t cover it up. If you’re writing about a hunter, then that hunter needs to love and live for the kill. The same goes for every single politically correct issue out there. I would take offence if an author didn’t push any of those characters to the edge and back because that means you’re holding back. Don’t. Don’t be afraid to write it all down. So what if everyone will hate it or you. You’re an author. Take a stand. In the end that’s our job. We are supposed to entertain and take a stand.
If you aren’t willing to then you’re in the wrong business and you might as well go back to writing reviews for books you love or puff pieces for the Huffington post. I would bet one thing…all those books you love pushed the envelope on one topic or another. They moved you because the author didn’t censor themselves and they didn’t back down from what their characters deemed to be right now matter how wrong they may be.
Dancing between reality and fiction is what great writing is all about. Reality is hard, gritty and often painful. The setting and genre don’t matter as long as the world you create isn’t censored because you’re afraid to hurt someone’s feelings.
Love and hugs.
Peace out.
Joann