Political Speech - Innapropriate, or Essential?

[pameladlloyd]

I've been struggling with the issue of how much I should say about politics in this blog, not because I think I should be silent on this issue (I don't), but because I've noticed that many people prefer to maintain some distance between their personal, work-oriented, and political journaling. So far, I've maintained this journal as a mix of the three, but as I've begun to express more political views, I wonder if that's making my friends who know me from non-political venues uncomfortable. Yet, at the same time, I'm very concerned about the direction of politics in my country, right now. I've considered creating a second journal, in which to discuss politics, but I haven't felt entirely comfortable about that either. For now, I think I will continue to make the occasional political post. There are many important issues and they touch on both my personal and writing life: issues of censorship, what it means to be a woman in today's world, how we as concerned citizens should respond when we are in disagreement with our government's actions, the information we share with others about candidates, and so much more. Ultimately, perhaps, all the issues come down to freedom: How do we define it? and, How do we ensure it?

Because the issue of speaking out and of silence have been very much on my mind recently, I want to share this poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892—1984) that I first encountered while I was in college in the late seventies. He apparently used many variations of this poem in different venues and there is dissagreement as to which is the "correct" version. You can read about this poem and its variants on Wikipedia.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

As always, I welcome your comments.

Comments

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I worry the same question. I am unahamedly political, but I also love having a space (and friends) where politics doesn't exclude. I have friends from across the political spectrum and I know them through a range of places and I really like having places we can meet. I may only let politics intrude occasinally in LJ and my other blog because that place to meet is so important to me, but I rather suspect politics are going to creep into the speech I'm supposed to be doing at Conflux.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Yes. We live in uncertain times, I think, which results in a need to speak up. And, yes, it is nice to have a safe place, where all our friends feel welcome. I hope that all my friends, in RL and online, know that I welcome them regardless of any political differences we may have and that I have no desire to stifle anyone's voice.

[larryhammer]

Don't worry about the mix of politics or not that you post about. Deliberate self-censorship will only, for lack of a better word, damage your voice -- and those who want to read your journal, want to for that voice. Second-guessing yourself (and your audience), ditto.

Of course, I'm saying that as someone whose journal is written by a persona deliberately constructed to include not-talking-about-politics as part of its voice. Here, have some salt -- it goes well with the pepperrant.

---L.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Larry. Your comment is very reassuring. :)

[cedunkley.livejournal.com]

I used to participate in political discussion and debate quite heavily online for a while, in particular on many of the NY Times political forums. We had quite a lively steady group with a mix of viewpoints that ran the gambit. Unfortunately the Times ended up shutting the forums down, mostly due to too many out of control groups from the far left and far right that would invade each forum with the successful intent of disrupting any possible debate and discussion.

Here in LJ land I've made a point of staying out of any political discussion. If I do, I would most likely create an alternate LJ account just for political discussion as I would not want my writing blog inundated with political ideologues incapable of separating the two worlds.

Just my opinion.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Your opinion is always welcome. While for the short term, at least, I will probably keep political posts to this journal, I haven't made up my mind one way or the other for the long term. If I find the political discussion is beginning to predominate things, I may change my mind. :)

So far, I've not run into anything on LJ that seemed out of control. Most folks I've interacted with here are downright pleasant and work hard to get along with everybody.

[faerie-writer.livejournal.com]

christinenorris summed up my feelings about politics in general. When one side warns to Be afraid of "Radical Muslims" and "Radical Islam".

My feelings are that I'm just as afraid of "Radical Christians", and "Radical Evangelicals". Anyone radical usually is frightening.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I wasn't able to find christinenorris' post that you referred to, I think maybe it's friends-locked, but I agree that radicals of any stripe are scary.

I prefer a pluralistic society in which all viewpoints and all people are accorded respect.

[faerie-writer.livejournal.com]

You're right. It was f-locked. Sorry about that. And, yes, I much prefer a pluralistic society as well and believe fervently that religion and state *need* to be separate.

[crinklequirk.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting that poem. I may just cross-post it (and your lovely links) here, and or another online journal I keep.

Excellent points, and minds me strongly of things I was raised under - including a version of that poem.

Probably one reason I've always been involved in community groups, like gardening, and have been an activist.

Keep your voice - don't worry about it too much, or your LJ won't be yours any more.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I really appreciate your support.

I'm glad you like the poem. It has always stuck in my head, ever since my prof recited it, as something really, really important, maybe the most important thing I learned while I was in school. Please feel free to link away.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

The poem reminds me of a Russian joke:

Two rabbits met on the road during the Stalinist terror of 1937. One rabbit was very agitated, and the second rabbit asked him why.

"Haven't you heard? They're going to castrate all the camels!"

"Why do you care? You're not a camel."

"After they catch you and castrate you, then you try to prove you're not a camel."

Seriously, I think politics are worth talking about. I think the nature of reality, and wisdom, is worth talking about. No one discusses the real foundation of policy, which is philosophy.

So, post away.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

I agree that politics are worth discussing, I just wasn't sure if this was the right venue, or if it would be better to have a separate journal just for the politics. But, if I moved my political discussion (infrequent as it often is) to another journal, I think it might go completely unnoticed between now and the next election. I'm also not sure I want to compartmentalize myself that way.

So, it's very helpful to get this feedback.