Writing for the Cause

Why Write?

To Affect Others (Editor at least has to read it, those who know you may read it, the vast majority are in the muddy middle and don’t have clear positions on difficult issues, go ahead and preach to the ‘choir’ as they may need encouragement, your arguments may be the ammunition someone needs to fight the fight, you may create a cognitive dissonance – a small crack in the assurance of an opponent, in a youth culture the voice of youth has disproportionate influence, if you can you must –“From him to whom much is given, much will be expected.”)

To Affect Yourself (If you write you will think more clearly and be better prepared in an argument on the subject, discipline in one area improves discipline in other area, letters to the editor improve your writing – word limit is a wonderful incentive to write tight and more powerfully)

To Have No Effect (It is spiritually maturing to do something worth doing without the promise that there will be a payoff in money, glory, or results. Think of it as doing “little things with great love” – St. Therese and Mother Teresa)

How to Write?

Be Wise as Serpents (Link to current news and issues, know and follow the rules, avoid red flags and buzzwords, know the opponent’s argument and find some point you can agree on if possible, remember the ‘truth’ doesn’t seem obvious to ‘them’, understand that your opponent does not recognize your authorities, make them wonder which side you’re on – hook ‘em, be proactive rather than reactive)

And Gentle as Doves (Being right doesn’t make you righteous, “Truth can comprehend error, but error cannot comprehend truth.”– G. K Chesterton, give them a face-saving way to agree, respect your opponent – no name calling or ad hominem arguments, watch out for your own anger and frustration – it can be a foothold for satan, simple language without condescension if needed for your audience, sarcasm can be used well but sometimes is a last resort when we despair of being heard, speak the truth in love, respond to thoughtful responders, false: that nice people don’t argue)