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Pink Think: "People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photo by graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Are my op-eds a reflection of who I am as a person?
I've been thinking of the opinion columns I have been writing over the last four months. The short answer, of course, is yes. Unlike fiction, an opinion column is just that, my opinion. It sums up what I think, how I feel about an issue.
I'm not always opinionated in social situations. Although I relish an occasional debate now and then with my hubby, in general I don't engage in verbal sparring with my neighbors.
I scoured a newspaper editorial page the other day; I discovered something interesting. I noticed that national columnists like Charles Krathaummer and the like will very rarely put themselves in their column. Say they are writing about immigration. Their column will contain statistics, facts, but feelings, hardly.
I feel strongly about immigration because I am a first-generation American immigrant. So I crafted this piece and chewed on my fingernails because I was afraid I might have come on too strong. But when I think of that issue, I cannot separate my own personal experiences from my opinion.
Will I ever get to the point when I don't worry so much anymore what people think, so long as I am honest in my opinion, back my piece with accurate sources, and don't name-call or attack people?
When I expressed my concern that I might be too shrill, my editor said the more opinionated I am, the more enjoyable my pieces are.
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Who do YOU enjoy reading? Someone who comes right out and says what they think? Or someone who tries to balance all views and lets the reader decide for themselves? Do you like opinion columns where the writer gets up close and personal about a certain issue?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Reflection of Who I Am?
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6 comments:
I think it's good to be honest with your opinions. I have a hard time with that myself, though. Good for you!
I think an opinion column is just that--opinion. I love reading what Orson Scott Card has to say on his Hatrack page, but I know it is all opinion, I don't take it as gospel. If people are writing column with just facts and stats, it is not an opinion piece. I say write on, if you have an opinion column give your opinion.
Charles Krauthammer is one of the few conservative columnists that my local paper will carry.
Almost everyone else that they have are very local and unnecessarily inject themselves into the columns, which of course makes them extremely one sided.
Angie: Yes, sometimes it can be tough!
Sabine: Well said! I haven't read his column in a while, but I know what you mean. His is certainly an interesting perspective.
G: I think it's important to take a side when writing a column. It's fun if people agree or disagree; that's the hope, right? :-)
It takes courage to express your opinion in a public forum. I applaud you for that. I find it a hard thing to do about topics that I am passionate about because I know my opinions can be very polarizing. Sometimes it's just easier to take the middle ground. But an opinion column should offer an opinion. So keep doing what you're doing.
btw - I liked your immigration piece.
Juliann:Thanks for your visit here and your kind words. Yes, it can be very scary to share your opinion with the world, even though only two people read it. You are always seeking validation that what you wrote is "liked" by others. What I am discovering is the more I express my honest opinion, the more confident I feel not just in writing but in living :-).
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