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Anyone who writes, lets themselves open to criticism because everything you write won't necessarily agree with others individual teachings, beliefs, education or regional norms.
I have been writing for more than 45 years; 10 years in private industry working with public relation firms and 35 years in the public domain with the news side of writing. To tell you that I love writing would be an understatement.
But I had to learn at an early age that not everything you write will agree with everyone who reads the material you offer for reading. Over the years I believe that I have received over 30 thousand letters and E-mails from readers who wanted to express their opinions about my writings.
If you think everyone wanted to tell me how intelligent or charming I came across you must be related to Rebecca from Sunny Brook Farms. Many writers expressed dismay that anyone would give me a job in the industry while many more suggested that I do things to myself that would be physically impossible and very painful if attempted.
Over the years, many thought I was completely unprofessional in my approach to the subject I was covering and wished they were my editors so they could properly chastise me or assign me to the Antarctica for a couple of years, to cover the mating habits of the Emperor Penguins.
After proper toiling in the industry as a police reporter, beat reporter and assigned to stories that some editor needed a quick hit for the ROP (rest of paper really a filler piece) I managed to make a name for myself and my editors took notice of my work and realized I knew what was expected of me.
I managed to enter the world of investigative reporting with particular expertise in the world of politics. Over the years, I managed to cover the entire gambit of the political scene from national to state to county to local politics. I got to know all the candidates on a first name basis and we continued our relationship after many were elected to office. That gave me access to them once in office and allowed me to write about exclusive issues.
That didn't stop the letters from coming, in fact the numbers of letters increased and the opinions expressed were more graphic. I knew I was doing my job when threatening letters were sent to my editors or if advertisers threatened to withhold their advertising dollars if I wasn't fired.
For the record, I was never fired and my publishers never caved in to the advertisers. One of my publishers became so irate at the suggestion that I be fired or the advertiser would pull his ads that he banned the advertiser. It was the Christmas season and the paper would not accept any ads from that advertiser during the holiday season.
The advertiser was a top end automobile dealer who normally took two pages (double truck) offering his vehicles. I had completed an investigative series about the dealership participating in an odometer turn back program and that his pre-owned vehicles had questionable mileage on their odometers.
We of course ran the series and the Attorney General's office prosecuted the offenders. You should have seen those letters to the editor and the E-mails. Some of them would have made senior members of the Mafia blush.
I once did an investigative series on waste haulers and their influence on elected political office holders. After the series was complete, literally tens of millions of dollars had to be repaid to communities and residents for overcharges. During the investigation I was advised by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to watch my back. I knew I had done my job if they needed to advise me. The mail was mostly complimentary on that series.
So why do I recite these memories? That's easy. In today's writings, we are covering political issues revolving around the nation's two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the prosecution of CIA agents in possible illegal tactics to obtain vital information, in the name of national security. The tone of the debate is rancorous and both sides have dug in their feet. Depending on which side you favor, you will be castigated with rhetoric that is almost impossible to defend.
I am a conservative who believes in a strong government. But I don't want my government to think for me - I want them to protect my way of life. I don't want any handouts or social programs. I just want the government to fund and provide a military that will preserve and protect our way of life.
Today I don't get much E-mail that tells me I am wrong or suggests open dialogue. Instead the new critics do not want debate about possible tactical or strategic alternatives.
Today I am told that this is not what Jesus Christ would advocate. I am told his teachings are different from mine and I find that an interesting response. I hope this is not some form of passive aggressive response to have me back down. Yes, I am familiar with His teachings in the New Testament, but I do not necessarily agree with all of them.
Now I don't want to blaspheme our Lord and Savior, nor ire His followers, so I will merely point out that I follow the beliefs and instructions of one who would disagree with some of the teachings of Jesus you might remember His name it has been in all the papers it is Jesus's Father and His name is Almighty God. If you read the word of Almighty God, He was pretty specific with His instructions about dealing and treating your enemies.
I am a believer in the Old Testament where God, somewhere before I came along, decided that the Israelites would be His chosen people and warned them, "When the Lord, your God, brings you into the land to which you are coming to possess it, He will cast away many nations from before you: the Hittites , the Girgash-ites , the Amorites , the Canaanites , the Perizzites , the Hivvites , and the Jebusites , seven nations more numerous and powerful than you."
"And the Lord, your God, will deliver them to you, and you shall smite them. You shall utterly destroy them; neither shall you make a covenant with them, nor be gracious to them."
That sounds pretty clear to me. Now, as you will remember, the Israelites didn't just hop on a jet and fly from Egypt to the plains of Moav. They wandered in the Wilderness for 40 years. In their wandering, they encountered many people and God instructed them to avoid certain people and helped them conquer others along the way.
I believe the God of the Old Testament is a God of justice, and no sin is acceptable. I believe that He is the God of warfare and revenge, as seen in the Book of Joshua.
That same God gave Moses t he Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, which are a list of religious and moral imperatives that, according to Judeo-Christian tradition, were authored by God and given to Moses on the the mountain referred to as Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:23) or Horeb (Deuteronomy 5:2) in the form of two stone tablets and they are recognized today as the moral foundation of most religions.
There seems to be some confusion here however. These same Ten Commandments are generally ignored (look at the crime statistics or the prison population) and are subject to interpertation by modern followers of Jesus Christ.
That is unless one of his followers has been imprisoned fror breaking multiple Commandments at which time he will soon discover the existence of Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments. Of course if I were to be sentenced to prison for 30 years and had to share a cell with someone called Bubba, who wanted to love me on a nightly basis, I would find Jesus Christ too and quickly.
As a follower Jesus's Father (Almighty God), I am comfortable in my thinkings and writings.
JP Bender is a retired award winning investigative reporter with 35 years experience in the profession. He now spends his retirement living in Maryland with his children and grandchildren. He still reports on issues of national interest, while his peers claim he does not fully understand the meaning of the word“retired.”
Well, this one covered much territory! I am smiling. Enjoyed reading this. By the way, there are many of Jesus's followers who totally disagree on issues like war, capital punishment and, well, government! Don't ever stop writing your mind. I would gladly nominate you as a poster boy for free speech but think someone did that a couple of days ago. You are refreshing and much enjoyed! this is coming from a fellow conservative who wants LESS government but I want it to be STRONG and carry a big stick while speaking in modulated tones. Sometimes you wonder if anyone is listening anymore. Glad you are there! Marijo
Thanks (Marijo) for your you insight and viewpoints. Around various newsrooms it was widely viewed that on my way to the grave I would probably open the casket and advise those in attendance that we need to be on alert about something that was amiss in the government. JP
Hi JP. Thank you for the opportunity to know you through your writing. I admire your honesty and truthfulness. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I enjoyed your article immensely. Best regards to you and yours, Nenita
Thanks Lorrie for writing. I would not want you to agree with me all of the time - then we could not have a dialogue or honest debate. I appreciate your sentiments. Best personal regards, JP
» left by John Short from Eureka Springs (71 days 3 hours ago.)
Oh come on, JP, certainly you don't expect that writing on the 'Net will get you the same response as writing for a newspaper, do you? There is a reason that newspapers are going out of business left and right, and it's not because us young whipper-snappers can't read.
People expect to be able to debate and discuss these days. Post it on the 'Net and you will have everything about yourself questioned, from your religious views to your patriotism. That's just how it is.
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