Wednesday, November 30, 2011

They're Just Words

Small town politics is not all it’s cracked up to be.  Neither is trying to hold those in those offices accountable for their actions.  Just recently it was pointed out to me that my words could be used against others, that they can be acerbic or they can be thought provoking.  The last two I can live with, the former not so much.  Happenings in our little borough can be as happy as a resident realizing a career goal and being hired as a full time officer, or as down and dirty as the council race that concluded just this past month.  Wonderful occurrences like neighbors looking out for each other, or working against each other out of spite.   When these things happen especially the ones that are negative or prove to be negative they make me angry for a moment and I may write about them.  I may hold an elected official to the fact that they are working for the people not against them and that he or she needs to remember that.  I may be surprised and displeased at the actions of someone and mention things that correspond to my own experiences, but that does not mean that I don’t admire them for fighting the good fight. 
 When I go to the polls I vote for the person who most matches my thoughts and ideals and sometimes I have to make a compromise.  If there is work to be done I will work with anyone for the good of the town and it doesn’t matter if I disagree with you on one issue because on another you may have great insights and fantastic ideas, just as I in your thoughts are about 15 degrees right of center when we disagree or even fight.  I don’t hate anyone…..ok well there are a few, but no one I know personally and I will work with just about anyone.  But as even my friends will tell you I will call you on what I consider to be either inappropriate or in my eyes plain wrong.  However, using that trait that I have to hurt others either personally or professionally is not what I am all about nor is it something I would expect of people I know, friends, colleagues or working acquaintances.  If anyone has been personally harmed or taken to task because I said my piece then I am truly sorry.  I chose my words carefully so that they should not be taken out of context, nor used as a weapon and I apologize if anyone saw fit to do exactly those things to anyone else.

5 comments:

  1. I don't believe anything you wrote can be considered libelous. Your opinions can be strong, but they are YOUR opinions. You were never quoted in the newspaper saying that so-and-so lied in court knowing that is not true, or stating it as fact because "someone else told you so."

    Your negative opinions never included comments that were there any made-up or imagined situations, e.g. "...it would be just like him to ..."
    Well, there may have  been a few close calls when you wrote about Ms. Feldman, but they WERE your opinions and obviously so.

    I don't think you should have to apologize for your opinions either.  If someone were to use your negative opinions, perhaps out of context, perhaps skewing the statement, specifically to attack another person, it is NOT something you should apologize for. Why apologize for something someone else did?

    Your blog is your space for writing your opinions on the events of Downingtown AND allow others to voice their opinions on what you wrote. You never used your written opinions for your own personal gain. What you wrote did not cause anyone to lose an election.

    There are times when words can hurt. Hearing harsh words in the heat of an argument can be personally and emotionally devastating. Nothing that you have written can come close to some of the comments written in the posts under DLN articles. 

    And there is nothing in your blog to apologize for.

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  2. http://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=1153

    libel
    1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), writing or broadcast through radio, television or film, an untruth about another which will do harm to that person or his/her reputation, by tending to bring the target into ridicule, hatred, scorn or contempt of others. Libel is the written or broadcast form of defamation, distinguished from slander, which is oral defamation....

    ...Publication need only be to one person, but it must be a statement which claims to be fact and is not clearly identified as an opinion.

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  3. But when it it shown to be the truth there is no libel. Show me where libel has been committed? Secondly since this is not a news source and is indeed a blog and the profile information even states that it is issues and THOUGTS that happen around town I would suppose that is opinion huh?

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  4. Last I checked we lived in America. So to the poster above who threw out a definition. I got one for you too

    Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws, with the exception of obscenity, defamation, incitement to riot, and fighting words, as well as harassment, privileged communications, trade secrets, classified material, copyright, patents, military conduct, commercial speech such as advertising, and time, place and manner restrictions.

    Fear has its use but cowardice has none. You go on and post more of your definitions. By trying to incite fear all your doing is showing how weak and pathetic you really are. Libel my fat butt. There is NOTHING libel that was said here. My guess the poster that put that up is one of the cowards on town council, or one of the new members comming in. Wouldn't you agree Cara?? Oh I better stop this post or i will be sued for some slander, or a nice cup of libel, thrown in with a side of terroristic threats. Go fear monger somewhere else !!!

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  5. AMEN go peddle your fear somewhere else you will find no buyers here.

    Tony B

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