Expressing freely

Like many of you, I read a lot of news. I read online and good old hard copy. And the truth is, I occasionally “miss” reading an article of importance. Yup, it’s been known to happen. Sometimes I’m the last to know, when I used to be the person who heard it first. Last week, an elderly woman pointed to a news story in the “otherother” paper—she either knew I wrote for The Times or she just liked the idea of owning the story and letting me in on a little secret. The article about The Times (the editor and contributors) in the other-other papers was their version of local, breaking news. Now, if you haven’t read the article, written by a Belleville journalist, I’m not about to rehash it for you. I don’t get paid by the word. It’s enough to say if you happen to be a contributor of opinion to the media, slander, libel and defamation of character are issues you’d rather write about than be about. But it happens. Sometimes a writer ends up on the dirty end of the pen.

And, so it is. Most writers of published opinion are well aware of the libel act, regarding deformation, in Canada. Believe it or not, I try to say what I have to say without stepping on anyone’s character or kicking their feelings to the curb. However, I have been known to hip-check, here and there. I wonder if, perhaps, some people are a bit too quick to pursue legal action with regard to opinions expressed by others. I know, I know. Everyone has feelings. Me, too. But, if you’ve a mind to put your opinion “out there” (in print or otherwise) you have to be prepared for a well-aimed response or two from people who agree and, lots of times, from those who don’t agree. I don’t mind a well-placed rejoinder. I’m not a fan of lawsuits. Who, on the receiving end, is? Expressing an opinion, in public, is a double-edged sword, for sure. I know. I’ve been, and am, there. It’s difficult, especially in a small community like Prince Edward County, to keep the emotions out of an opinion and not step on any tendertootsies.

My brush with the dark side happened many years ago when I referred to someone as an “ostentatious clown”, sorta, kinda. It was my opinion. At the time I thought it was a pretty accurate characterization and I had expressed my opinion privately. I certainly didn’t want a public spectacle made of my opinion. When push came to shove, I quit my job because of the events leading up to my remark. Deep down I knew it was a risky to say what I had said. At the time, I was frustrated, humiliated and tired of the workplace harassment. In hindsight, I should have waited until I had calmed down from the continuous barrage of inappropriate and offensive remarks that had, most often, been voiced publicly, usually about my educational background, being female, or my hardworking staff/co-workers and many times about my professional skills and credentials. But you know how it is sometimes, the filter breaks and the ensuing mess is hard to clean up. I shouldn’t have stepped into it, especially when I knew the real source of the bad smell. Oh well, live and learn. I stooped to his and the corporate level and paid the price.

My point is, and I do have one, The Times was and is one heck of a newspaper. An opinion is important, encouraged and valued. An opinion can be expressed without too much censoring. And, like some opinions expressed, they aren’t always popular but it might be an opinion many of us are thinking or don’t have the wherewithal to put into words. The Times encourages opinions from their writers and their readers. It is a forum for public opinion which isn’t always pretty, but that’s what a forum is.

Freedom of speech is highly regarded in this country and protected as a fundamental freedom by Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But like a lot of guarantees and warranties, some conditions do apply. Being who I am—a person who doesn’t really have much of a filter or internal dialogue—expressing myself is a challenge. I think it’s time for the PEC public to get comfortable with the forum that is available in most news sources, especially The Times. via op-editorials, letters to the editor and comments online. Let’s air the laundry—it’s all dirty.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca