COLUMN: Puppet no more
If there are two things I wish for readers to get out of this column, it's that Central Michigan Life is an independent newspaper with no ties to the university outside of the amazing students that help write and publish it, and that an individual is only as strong as their words and morals.
Last week, I published a column calling out the presidential debate on their role of misrepresenting and showboating idealized versions of our presidential candidates. I addressed the fact that this nation needs to have our presidential candidates vetted, and for a lack of a better word, interrogated, in order to separate those who wish to lie their way into office by misrepresenting their platform.
Shortly after writing this article I was confronted by a CMU alum, and fellow appreciator of journalism, who felt that my use of the word "bullshit" (in the context of "he who can throw bullshit the furthest) hit a new low in the world of journalism. He addressed the fact that the use of the obscenity was unnecessary and uncalled for, and that he would be removing his funding from CMU's College of Communication and Fine Arts because of this "gaffe" — unless I write an apology for my poor choice of wording.
I've spent a fair amount of time over the weekend thinking of how to address this issue. While I understand the individual's view point, I am baffled why a graduate of CMU who holds himself to such a high standard that he is willing to address my poor choice of words would be willing to hold the future of innocent journalism students hostage for the sake of an apology.
Not to stray from the point, a great writer once said: "Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."
A newspaper's job is not to coddle the masses, at the same point the goal is not to fear monger or over play events. We are here to provide an unbiased report of what events happen, not to be pushed around by politicians, organizations, or our readers, and allowing that to happen is denying yourself the right to be called a journalist.
I write in the sense that I have become accustom through experience and teachings, statements and opinions back by hard evidence, because to write otherwise is denying myself and my morals. If my words offend those who do not wish to read such harsh words, I offer my apologizes, and will take your criticism to heart.
