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Are opinion writers and columnists immune to this thing called
“sensitivity and research?”
In all writing classes I know, teaching writing
entails educating aspiring scribes to do their homework before
formulating their initial copy or doing extensive research before
finalizing their drafts. One should always back up knowledge with
evidence; writers should always get their facts straight, period.
The public, as readers, should not expect anything less. Researching
all sides of one issue gives a better picture for writers to expound
on. This is how they learn to construct thoughts better before
putting them on paper (or on the screen).
But what about those who just write what they
want without really studying all sides of the issue concerned, or
worse, writes with abandon and don’t care about who they may
offend within their reading public? Such is the challenge for
regularly published—and widely read—columnists.
I remember one particular incident that sparked
controversy just because one columnist spoke his mind about a touchy
issue. This was two years ago, in another broadsheet, where an
established legal personality described homosexuals as “pansy”
and was alarmed at the rate gay people are “multiplying” in
society. As expected, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
community reacted vehemently. The reactions spawned discussions both
online and off, with no less than Cheche Lazaro discussing it in her
media-focused television show.
These past weeks, another LGBT-related concern
became the hot topic of columns and blogs—the controversial Cebu
surgery scandal. The issue, initially a gay-centered one, expanded
into other arenas such as the obvious lack of medical
professionalism and religious people’s condemnation of the gay
victim/patient’s sexual life.
Many writers have aired their side on this
certain fiasco. Some agreed that this is an issue of gross
negligence and malpractice, some sided with religion and focused on
the gay man as the culprit in all this, while some focused on or
defended the jeering reactions of the medical practitioners. As a
person, I stand with the side of justice in this issue, because it
is an obvious display of the lack of respect for a patient by people
in power. What if this happened to me, or anyone else, just because
I/they appear quite different from the rest of society? It’s no
laughing matter.
As a writer, I find it incredulous that other
writers would blatantly air their opinions and comments even if they
know they will be offending some sectors of society. I believe
columnists should be more careful of what they will say about this
issue—or any sensitive and potentially offensive issue, for that
matter. Writing about such controversial issues, especially if the
article is going to be widely read, should entail one thing: the
basic respect for one’s human rights. As writers, we have the
power to use words in order to create influential thoughts and
ideas. Columnists in the future should stop using words to prop the
idea of homophobia and discrimination in our society.
Comments? Suggestions? E-mail libay.scribevibe@gmail.com.
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