A little background

To the readers of my spurts of random rambling posts – I apologize in advance.

You may find my writing style amusing. Endearing even. You might just as easily find it pedestrian and laborious to read. Call this my disclaimer.

I have the unfortunate habit of abusing punctuation. I writes like I talks…. and punctuation is just one of what’s bound to be many casualties among accepted conventions regarding the English language. I haven’t picked up an AP stylebook in about 10 years, and don’t intend to pick one up for at least another 10.

I tend to write in the first person, but can turn on a dime as the mood hits me. I really don’t do it just to confuse readers, and I do try and refrain from changing in mid-graph. I did say try, and I do apologize should you be among those that find navigating my regular bastardization of the language a painful experience.

My submissions contain my thoughts at a moment in time. They will most certainly probe at the periphery of what is acceptable, meaning that the subject matter may be objectionable to some people. There may be frank language at times, though I certainly try to refrain from waxing scatalogical. My standard soliloquy will not be carefully constructed prose – it will be off the cuff and raw and may be offensive in the opinion of those with agendas or a persecution complex.

I am not a rascist/sexist and I refuse to engage in doublethink to avoid being tagged as either by agenda driven race-baiters or their simpleton partisans. I do not feel the need to be “inclusive”, “balanced”, “fair” or otherwise beholden to any other person’s idea of intellectual honesty or moral propriety. I believe in right and wrong as objectively knowable, and write with the conviction of being one that is right. When I change my opinion about a matter I am not afraid to say so, and I will always make a point of admitting when I have been shown to be wrong.

I am a deeply committed Christian, but I don’t readily identify with what passes for modern Christianity. This collection of writings will not generally be about my religious insights, and I offer it only as a further glipmse into my perspective so you can add to your prejudices about what you can expect. Do not make the mistake of thinking that I won’t be irreverant or mocking (of religions or other “sacred cows”) simply because I am “religious”.

I don’t like to be told what I can think or say, and I have a tendency to say things that I haven’t completely vetted the logic on – a kind of free association. I’m just following the logical process in the direction my brain takes it. It’s not always a pretty process.I don’t want people I don’t agree with to be silenced. I want everyone to be able to say anything they want to say. If it is racist or sexist or homophobic or incendiary or hateful – whatever other derisive term you might lablel a person’s thoughts and beliefs that you find repugnant – SO WHAT. Get a sense of humor. Remember what your grandma told you about sticks and stones. Whatever it takes to keep your world spinning in light of the realization that some people will disagree with you. Some people will not like you because of characteristics you have over which you may or may not have control. People will make generalizations that you will disagree with, and you will be incorrectly or unfairly judged based on prejudices of virtually every other person with whom you come in contact on this planet. People will say things that are offensive, off-handedly or by design, and you must find a way to go on. Do not abdicate the responsibility of free people to always strive to remain free for the convenience of not being bothered with opinions you find objectionable or with which you simply disagree. I believe whole-heartedly in the golden rule – and I don’t want people I disagree with to be silenced.

If you are uneasy with the sketchy parameters I’ve laid out about my future efforts, I advise discretion on your part. If you are easily offended, don’t like to have your opinions challenged or are otherwise wedded to popular orthodoxy, you should heed this warning: You will be offended, your opinions will be challenged and I will linguistically urinate on the rotting corpse of any notions of popular orthodoxy. Consider yourself warned.Winston