Sell-Outs

Sometimes, it is important to realize that things that need to be said must be said. It is not simply enough to want success and respect; these are things that need to be earned. If a writer wants her book to be important, she has to first be honest with herself and be certain with her intent and motivations. A musician who seeks to compose a meaningful song has to search within himself and find what he seeks, and not make excuses of lack of time or acceptance. Anyone who seeks to make a difference has to first and foremost come to terms with themselves.

Only then can whatever pursuit they embark upon truly have an impact.

Too much of or time and effort is wasted because of needless, unnecessary and ultimately harmful compromises. Compromise is only useful in relationships; even more so in politics. Not while doing what we love. An author cannot make compromises with her material; it is her prerogative to say what she wishes to say, exactly how she would like it to be said. A reporter has a duty and responsibility to report the truth; all else comes second. If a message is there to be said, and whoever is aware of that message feels that it should be passed on, then it is important that they do so, without being pressured into silence or censorship, regardless of the nature of the content.

A message may be offensive, obscene, prejudiced or malicious; but it is only a message. The important thing is our own maturity when such messages are made available. The person who exposes such information actively took the decision to do so, perhaps feeling it was their responsibility to do so. They made that choice and they must be mature enough to take responsibility for it. Just the same, for the rest of us who receive that information, we should be mature enough to judge that message for what it is, and not for anything else. By doing so, we should always look at ourselves, if that message does indeed make us feel offended or shocked; not just be quick to blame the source of the message.

If someone were to write a book on the importance of homosexuality, and publish it for the general public, they should not be harassed for it. Most of us know that it would be wrong to judge that person and punish them; most of us know that it is within their rights and that what that author is doing might actually help certain groups of people. We know this. We also know that knowledge alone is not sufficient, because that kind of unfair judgment and punishment still happens. That kind of tyrannical silencing still happens.

We do hide behind the supposed ‘needs’ of society. We should not say or do certain things that might disturb the peace, or ‘upset the natives’ so to speak. The flaw here is plain to see; the assumption is that the natives are backward and immature, that even the slightest mention of anything controversial would give rise to trouble. Whether or not this is true is not the point; the fact that by making this assumption in the first place actually perpetuates the situation. The ‘common folk’ WILL become immature and stupid an ignorant if we are constantly sheltered and protected. There is no need to point out just how shallow a lot of us have become because of this.

Why do our musicians beg for support and fail to get any substantial audience? Why do our authors fail to reach any relevant public attention? Is it because they are not good enough? Or is it because that they simply are not being allowed to say what they need to be saying? Perhaps it is a bit of both. We accuse people of selling out whenever they seem to be simply pandering to the masses and not being honest. If this is the case, than it seems we are nothing more than a society full of sell-outs; never being brave enough to say what we KNOW should be said, yet still desperate for attention and success.

We should never blame authority for being suppressed or silence. It is our own fault.