HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Jan. 26, 2005 A well-known adage warns against the subjects of religion and politics when engaged in polite society. Although surely weighty subjects, with tomes of precedent and yet, infinite ideologies remaining for discussion, the admonitions against these topics are reasonable in light of the offense that often results. While most people are resolute in their views on these subjects, almost no two people are resolute in exactly the same way - which doesn’t make for the respectful tete-a-tete one finds in a Jane Austen book. Ah, but surely you agree, the U-K community is not even close to polite society; and thus, religion and politics are favorite subjects of our contributors. I note this only because two other subjects abound on this site that also invoke similar firmness of resolve and polarity of views: grammar and PublishAmerica. Both issues require some contributors to defend their traditional values, while more liberal contributors seek acceptance for new methods, less rigid standards, and more artistic freedom. Oddly, this juxtaposition of liberal/conservative contributors is not constituted by the same general demographics found among political and religious viewpoints. It seems that one might be very conservative on those two topics and yet, allow for total anarchy in writing and/or gibberish to be published – or the reverse. I, for one, do follow my same conservative bent in my regard of these topics. I have a tremendous respect and awe of the English language, and of those skilled in its use. I dislike shoddy, lazy writing that insults the reader in its disregard for their pleasure. Likewise, I see PublishAmerica as the Death Row Records of the written genre – Rap is to music as PA is to publishing. Calling a Rapper a musician disrespects all who have studied music and practiced for years to perfect their talent. Composing, arrangement, instruments, melodies, harmonies, etc., are vital components of music but are not within the purview of Rappers. Likewise, someone who, figuratively, wipes their backside and pays for its publish by PA, should not be allowed to claim status as an “published author”. That claim disrespects every professional writer who has studied the language, perfected their craft, is conscientious in their respect for the reader, and who has suffered the rejections of dozens of merit-based publishers. The discipline and persistence of those efforts do not deserve the denigration of their profession to nothing more than a 1-900-B-A-Riter phone lite. But Rap is popular, I must admit. As are some of the worst writers contributing to U-K. And I suspect that one or two rappers have musical talent – I know there is an Eminem “song” I like – so I suspect an equal possibility that talent exists among PA authors. If so, I would think that the ubiquity of the Internet and absence of quality standards at PA had proven the prediction that an infinite number of monkeys, typing for an infinite number of years, would create a classic literary work. For that reason, I admit the necessity of a PA, and of Death Row Records, and do not complain of their productions. Yes, sad as it may be, the wretched among us deserve the whiff of acclaim PA provides because history tells us that there are needles in haystacks. I have resigned myself to the occasional gibberish splattered on this site and the inflated egos shamelessly touting their literary “success”, (Ms. Banks excluded) just as I ignore reality TV, Michael Moore, Paris Hilton, all American Idol contestants, and the like. Quality writers and writing will always rise to the top while the writing rabble will always muck about like a spastic performing brain surgery. And the crazy thing is…..folks are competing frenetically to be the next great Spastic Surgeon. I recommend you not write about religion, politics, grammar, PublishAmerica – or any headaches you’ve been having – on U-K. Best case, some idiot disagrees vehemently with you, albeit without substance. Worst case, they’ll want you to buy their book. ------------ About the author: Ron Lewis is a software salesman extraordinaire, albeit habitually unemployed, with no significant accomplishments at age 47 other than two wonderfully talented children who take after their mother. All his friends note his keen insight, bad eyesight, doggedly jaded disposition, and rugged bad looks. A third person seems to recall that he talks too much. Email: grnacres@direcway.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
