Why I Write

Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself.... It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent. – Harper Lee

I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us…. Humans are caught — in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too — in a net of good and evil. I think this is the only story we have and that it occurs on all levels of feeling and intelligence. Virtue and vice were warp and woof of our first consciousness, and they will be the fabric of our last, and this despite any changes we may impose on field and river and mountain, on economy and manners. There is no other story. – John Steinbeck

Some of you complain that my blog essays are too long, too esoteric, use too many big words unnecessarily, and/or are too flowery.

The same readers claim that I could reach more people, be more effective in getting my ideas across, and be more persuasive with my points of view if I wrote shorter essays, used simpler less intellectual language, and got to my point more quickly and directly.

I welcome this criticism and agree that my writing could use some improvement. Concerning the readability of my essays, you may not agree but I honestly think that with a little time and effort anyone can read and understand them. Anyone. I am happy when people take the time to go through and study my essays. I’m even happier when they point out the flaws in them and shortcomings in my thinking. To those readers who have no complaints and who write to me supportively, thank you. 

Here’s why I write as I do. 

I do not republish raw information by itself, produce catchy sound bites, entertain, or give unsupported opinion. Readers who expect this should go to the Internet, talk radio, and commercial television.

I do not break complex ideas, events, and problems down into easily readable, understandable bits. It is not possible to do that with complicated matters and have it result in meaningful learning and significant, sustainable changes in another person’s ideas and thinking methods. 

Understanding complex things and changing another person’s or an institution’s deep-seated thinking require serious, detailed reading, actively challenging their ideas and operations, a willingness to do so, and effort. I try to lead and encourage readers to do all these things. There are few shortcuts, if any.

If a shortage of time and the complexity of our times are the problem, read “Have We Become the White Rabbit? The Experience of Time in the Postmodern Era.”

The topics I write about - human nature, ideas, beliefs, values, freedom, morality, virtue, social and cultural change - are complex. I cannot whittle then down to bite-size, easy to swallow morsels.

I present points of argumentation.

What I mean is, I present an idea, event, or problem in basic language except when a few complex words or ideas are necessary. Next, I describe how the idea, event, or problem came about.

Then, I identify the assumptions and preconceptions behind the description of the event, idea, or problem. In doing this I also try to present a range of differing understandings. 

I then present what is behind the smoke and mirrors the wealthy, powerful, or others use to hide or put makeup on their intentions concerning the event, idea, or problem.

Finally, I state a conclusion about what I’ve presented and a brief recommendation or projection, consistent with my conclusion, of what the event, idea, or problem may bring about. 

Put simply, I’m trying to help people untangle themselves, in mind and body, from the jungle of words and schemes of the wealthy and powerful.

No, not by adding more complex words and schemes as I’m often accused of. Rather, by separating out and examining the important parts of ideas, events, and other people’s arguments about them, especially the wealthy and powerful, systematically and thoroughly.

You cannot understand and get untangled from complex ideas, events, and problems easily or quickly.

It takes reading, time, effort, a dictionary, an encyclopedia, and some serious thinking.

Quick, simple language breakdowns and pointed messages are what the wealthy and powerful use to enslave and hold us in their service. They appeal to our emotions and capture us with myths laced with addictive consumer goods. Using the same methods will not give us much freedom from these rulers. It will only give us new rulers and not help us think freely, critically, and independently.

I research, think about, and write my essays from what I see as an obligation to my fellow humans. That is, to use what talent and experience they have given me to help make us all more knowledgeable and free, and better able to defend ourselves from those who profit from enslaving us.

I do not know better than everyone. I am not always just, temperate, courageous, or wise in my dealings with ideas, events, problems, and people. I try. I am, like everyone else, imperfect and fallible.

I’m not always correct. But my errors do not come from ignoring complicated things, waiting on and insisting they be made simple for me, or from not trying my best to understand them independently.

I am a teacher, one among many others one can choose from.

Thanks for your time. 

lassiterje@hotmail.com