by Wilbur Witt
I recently submitted an article to the local newspaper in an effort to see if it would possibly run some of my articles. I don't like to submit locally, in fact I dodge it like the plague. When I left that garage studio in Harker Heights back in '84 and went to Austin I never came back. I quickly found out that there's a REASON places like Austin, L A, and New York turn out more publications than Ding Dong, Texas. But, I submitted, and patiently waited for the rejection. Notice how I knew that was coming. When it came the reason was that I was "opinionated." What, ME, opinionated? NO!
Well, I AM opinionated. Rejections from local papers don't affect me. I spoke to the representative and he told me that the paper was looking for a bit more of the mundane. We had a pleasant conversation, and I told him if he ever needed an article in my style please don't hesitate to give me a ring. He'll never call. He wants to keep his job. But I don't hold this against him. Life is like an airplane. Some planes fly under 3,000 feet and others, well, they fly a bit higher.
When I write on any subject I insert what I think. That's the whole purpose of writing. To communicate ideas to people makes the world connect, and when you have ideas that resound in the human experience that's that makes the world not only connect, but think. Frankly, I can't make myself get excited about writing a story about a girl scout cookie sale. Not that I don't like girl scout cookies, but I simply MUST stay awake while writing.
I've made a career out of stating the unstateable. I apply old time Texas rules to modern circumstances. The results are usually good. I'm a little politically correct, but not much. When correctness approaches stupid I do a right turn (and I do mean right) and just tell it like it is. I knew Jodi Arias was going to spit that hook when I saw her stretch in front of that jury full of men. I knew George Zimmerman was going to walk when I saw that poster sized picture of the back of his head, and I'm telling you right now that Ali Baba out on Fort Hood will NEVER be executed for his crime. Why do I know these things? I know these things because I've got common sense. That, and I see the underlying issues.
Take for example the local paper here covering the Fort Hood trial. I glanced over the article briefly and all I noticed was how the reporter was very impressed with all the national media coverage. Frankly, he/she was star struck. Myself, I would have cornered one of the people involved in the shooting and got the rest of the story. I think this reporter simply copied the CNN story and went on about all the media trucks in the parking lot. And, yes, I would be "opinionated." Now look at this story. Religious fanatic murders unarmed people. As I've said before, and I'll say it again, I'm just a simple old boy from Austin . . .what do you think I'd like to do,to him . . .in your "opinion?"
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