In light of recent events surrounding one of my posts, I feel this entry is necessary.
My family is not perfect, nor would I ever say that we are. Like every other family in the world, we have our problems. Some are major. Others are trivial. We've dealt with drugs, death, divorce and even feuds, but I feel as if I should clear some things up when it comes to a story I recently posted.
I am well aware of what domestic abuse is. I am also aware of dangerous dating techniques. I don't support either, regardless of it involves one of my family members, one of my friends or a complete stranger.
I will say this one more time concerning that post: my grandparents were not engaged in an abusive relationship, nor did my grandfather use attempted murder as a way of getting my grandmother to be with him, nor would she have responded to that sort of tactic in the first place. For a complete stranger to interpret that story in such a negative fashion is a serious blow to me personally.
Either I really sucked at delivering that story in a positive, upbeat way, or that person just grossly misinterpreted it and then ran with her assumptions and even posted a blog of her own using parts of my story to describe an unhealthy relationship.
As a journalist I am a firm believer in the First Amendment. Free speech is a vital part of my every day life. However, before I open my mouth or put my fingers on my computer keyboard, I verify my facts. I would never offer up an assumption with such far-reaching implications as the one I've been handed recently without some hard facts, especially if I had never met the family in question.
I believe I am an ethical person. I strive to tell the truth as I know it and to be tolerant of other peoples' opinions. I deal with people in my daily job who test the limits of ethics and my patience. Their ignorance and self-importance is often something to be reckoned with, but for the most part I always keep a level head ... but of course they're not making untrue statements about my family.
So I'm done with this situation. Obviously you will believe what you want to believe at the end of the day. All I can hope is that my writing skills improve to a level of such clarity that when I tell a happy, romantic story about one of my relatives it will be perceived as such.
Happy Monday.
