I wrote a letter to the editor yesterday. And then declared to my husband that I was never going to read a newspaper again! Of course, I didn’t really mean it, but getting all riled up over something I read is certainly not my choice of how to spend a Sunday morning before church.
I was minding my own business watching the sun come up, enjoying a cup of coffee, and reading our local newspaper online (since our delivery guy tends to sleep in on Sunday mornings). But I made the mistake of reading a certain article, and next thing I knew, I was ranting and raving to my husband, composing a letter in my mind.
“Go write it down,” Ken said. So I marched to my desk and started writing. Half an hour later I’d whittled my initial thoughts down to the newspaper’s suggested 200-word limit and softened the tone so as not to sound like a raving lunatic. 😉 I read the resulting letter to Ken, and he suggested a couple of changes.
Back to my desk to tweak. But before we left for church—thanks to the wonder of e-mail—my letter (exactly 222 words) was on some editor’s desk (or computer) at The Wichita Eagle.
Who knows if that letter will change anyone’s mind. Or if it will even be published. That wasn’t the point for me. I needed to express how angry the article had made me and how I felt it unfairly accused people who believe like I do about this particular issue. And I felt a little better simply having spoken my mind.
Before I began writing novels, I had several letters to the editor published in our local small-town newspapers. It was actually one of those letters that helped me recognize the power of the pen. After that letter appeared, I received an anonymous phone call from a man who told me he’d changed his mind about voting for a very popular incumbent after reading my letter, which called the incumbent to task for some of her political stances.
Since receiving that encouraging phone call, I’ve often used the power of the written word to voice my concerns. A few years ago I wrote to the editor of a popular decorating magazine to let them know how disappointed I was that in one issue alone, they had called feng shui an “environmental science,” they had suggested enhancing an unmarried homeowner’s bedroom décor “for entertaining gentlemen callers,” and they had featured a book titled Things a Woman Should Know About Seduction, in which most of the temptresses highlighted in the review were women who’d destroyed marriages (and empires!) through their seduction—certainly not something to “wink” at or aspire to.
I don’t like to get political in my writing, and certainly not on social media. But sometimes a well-timed, graciously worded letter to the editor may have the power to change someone’s mind. And I believe if it makes even one person stop and think about an issue in a new way, it was worth the time spent writing it.
Have you ever written a letter to the editor—or wanted to? What were the results and how did you feel about the whole experience?
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I did. I wrote to tell the paper and the school what I thought about their lack of respect. My Dad drove a school bus for 20 years. The kids all loved him and he took extra special care of the kids under his charge. I’ve seen kids he drove grow up and have kids that he in turn drove to school. I’ve seen kids run up to my Dad in the mall to hug him or grown men come over to shake my Dad’s hand. However, when Dad retired having worked in the same retirement system as the teachers and office help, he was not acknowledged at all including the paper write up. I thought it was a disgrace. To thank they would hand over their kids to him every day – twice a day – and then not even recognize his long time devotion to the children was unthinkable. Yes, they did finally acknowledge him but as with all corrections or follow ups it was hidden in the back pages and to me still didn’t recognize my Dad for the great man he was. I did have peace of mind though knowing that I had spoke up for my Dad.
I’m sure your honoring of your dad meant more to him than anything else, Kay! He sounds like a wonderful man! And maybe your letter opened some eyes to the ways the school can honor their employees in the future.
No, I never have…but I’m glad to know you have, Deb! I’m thankful you stand up for your convictions and make your voice be heard. I’ve contacted companies concerning their ad campaigns (and/or no longer purchasing their product) that I thought were inappropriate. Glad you take a stand, and that Ken is a patient sounding board. 🙂
Contacting companies or boycotting is a great way to make your voice heard. Just think if EVERYONE did that? We could make a real difference!
Kudos to you and your strength of convictions! Many times I have wanted to express my opinion, but have not carried it through.
Your examples of the decorating magazine show exactly how our society is gradually losing any sense of values, morality, and self-respect. When we allow those concepts to creep into every aspect of life without any objection, they become acceptable. I taught 5th grade for 23 years and watched the change in children’s literature as it came to include vulgar words and graphic descriptions that should not be acceptable in books that influence children so young. Students would approach me and show me ‘bad’ words in their library books and express their shock. I agreed that I didn’t think it was appropriate and explained that some authors felt this language made their books more realistic of how a lot of people talked in everyday life. My students were adamant that this was unacceptable, so I told them they should write a letter to the author to express their outrage. When I was first hired at my school in 1991, our librarian had a standing order to purchase the yearly Caldecott and Newbery award books. A few years later, she told me she was appalled when she read the latest selection, and so returned it.
Newspapers, media, television, movies, etc. all affect our daily life and culture. My husband and I drove across country last summer from east coast to west coast on a six week vacation. Nowhere did we experience the hatred, discourse, and racism that is preached everyday in all of these outlets. People of all ethnicities and religious convictions were smiling, respectful, and helpful. I really wanted to write a Facebook post about this, but kept putting it off. I rarely post anything on Facebook and am cautious about what I do. Still, I often wish I had, so congratulations to you for letting your voice be heard!
It’s never too late, Betty! I hope you WILL write that post someday! And Ken and I have experienced just what you said. Everywhere we go, people are kind and courteous…it seems most of the vitriol is on social media where people can feel anonymous. And that’s exactly why I try to avoid controversial topics on social media.
Beautifully put, Betty – and I’ll add that – listening to news sources everywhere – we have become such an uncivil society. I am appalled at the way public figures everywhere speak to others. What an awful example for our children to see!
It takes courage to stand up for your convictions. All too often there are things in our society that are just not acceptable. I have stopped subscriptions to magazines that have articles just like you menton. We stopped taking our newspaper for the stances they have taken as well. If we don’t stand up we give them the right to keep it up. I am sure there are others who would like to stand with us. I woke up feeling strongly about just this very thing and it is ironic that I stopped to sip my coffee and read your email today. Thank you!
I have done the same thing, Mardell. Haven’t taken the newspaper in over 15 years, even after they called and wanted to give us a free subscription.
I think you both made a strong statement with another very powerful weapon: your pocketbook! If more people would honor their convictions with their checkbook, maybe we could slow the tide of objectionable material in our nation. Thank you both for sharing!
I have written to editors before! I have been thinking about doing so with a magazine this month. I would cancel the subscription but it was a gift! It is what used to be a family or women’s magazine but now praises what I consider immoral ideas.
Good for you, Joan! If enough people let that magazine know, who knows? Maybe they’ll change their content! I try to write when magazines do something RIGHT, too! But sadly, I’m probably more likely to write when I’m upset about something.
Good for you!
I am not patient enough to write a letter so instead I call the editor to voice my opinion. This is not a weekly event but it has resulted in changes in policy onetime.
I love the letter writing idea because it gives one a chance to refine the thought and maybe see things a little differently.
Jen, I’m thinking sometimes a phone call might get even better—and more immediate—results. I don’t usually call for fear I’ll either get angry and say something I’ll regret, or I’ll get emotional and cry! But simply letting your voice be heard is a great thing…however you choose to do it!
Absolutely! And just like in your experience, for me, it has always been something that was burning on my heart, that I felt needed to be said. I have had letters published in all manner of papers, from small local weeklies to one in the New York Times book section (I wish my mom had lived to see that!). Just like you, my hope and prayer are to open eyes and make people really think things through. I know that I usually won’t change minds, but if it educates even one person, it is worth it. One time, I even wrote one on vacation! There was a local “minister” hopping around in traffic, endangering himself and other people, and when an officer very kindly asked him to please get on the sidewalk, the man HIT the officer on the head. WITH A BIBLE!!! And possibly just as bad, several of the man’s “church members” were egging him on. Every time he would slap the Bible against the officer’s head, the man’s co-horts would yell out “OH GLORY TO GOD, GLORY tO GOD.”That all made me so mad (righteous anger, I hope), I had to fire off a letter saying that the Jesus that I knew would never condone using the word of God to hit an officer over the head. All the officer was doing, was trying to keep everyone safe. For me, letters remind me of that Bible verse about the stones crying out. When something burns on my heart, my spirit won’t rest until I get those words to the editor. I have written about everything from curbing cats who eat birds, to not blaming an editor for publishing info exposing a child molester. I Think “letters to the editor” are a vital part of our democracy, and are a powerful way to clear up misinformation and to inform readers about facts they may not know. Enjoyed your column, and I look forward to more. This is my first day receiving the blog. PS I haven’t ever responded to a blog, either lol. But this one resonated with me!! Thank you.
Well, that made my day, Janice! And I loved hearing about the things that make you “just have to respond!” That Bible “thumping” story is something else! Wow! So glad you’re subscribed to Inspired by Life…and Fiction, and hope you enjoy the things we post!
Yes! They ruined the street I grew up on by paving it over with that tar asphalt! What a disgrace to the graveled road it had been. I was in college and came home for a visit. I was so unhappy about the situation, my English professor dad suggested I write a Letter to the Editor. I ended my opinion with “I hope they don’t paint yellow lines down the middle.” I found out later that one of the construction workers had read my letter and thought to himself, “Well, she is going to be disappointed.” They did. Grrrr. Lol!
Oh! I’m sorry your story doesn’t have a happier ending. But I love that your dad encouraged you to speak your mind! Hopefully, other letters have had happier results!
Thanks for a wonderfully appropriate column for our times. I had to laugh at the fact that your wrote your letter before church – after words you might have been calmer and not expressed yourself as well. 🙂 And your letter to the decorating magazine did my heart good, too. As I get older the vulgarity in the printed word just gets more and more aggravating. As Christians we all need to speak up more often!
Thank YOU for your encouraging words, Lynne. And yes, I agree: we need to speak up more often!
Right on, Lynne!
Well, my letter did make it into the paper this morning, however (not surprisingly) they left out one KEY line from my letter, which then makes the next line seem a little random. Hopefully, people will get the gist. It’s out of my hands now, and that’s a good thing. 🙂 Thanks again for all your comments and stories.