What comes before. . .

Dear Reader,

If by chance, you have selected this collection of essays to read, I appreciate that.  There will be some people who read this who will applaud and some people who will be offended.  That is the nature of opinion pieces.  Opinions are like rectums, everyone has one.  Everyone has the right to their own opinion, just as I have the right to mine. If by chance, you even start to think about one topic or one idea or one concept, then the purpose has been achieved.  You are reading, so that in and of itself is a beginning. 

I have recently purchased a book by Juan Williams, a more eloquent writer and speaker than I, and a more informed individual than I.  Mr. Williams has been and still is a prominent voice in America, about issues that were at one time very controversial and some current; nevertheless, his is a voice that Americans need to hear.  Mr. Williams has written a book entitled “Muzzled: The Assault on Honest Debate.”  I may not agree with Mr. Williams’ political beliefs or perhaps any of his personal beliefs, I have not had a conversation with him concerning those topics, so I do not know; although I heartily agree with him on intelligent honest discourse and its demise in America. Mr. Williams takes on the idea that in today’s America, intelligent honest discourse, about any topic has been compromised.  Examples abound on network television and radio, if you listen to any interviews or discussion panels you will be exposed to a myriad of examples of what Mr. Williams is discussing in his book. 

Basically, this collection of essays is also about discourse, whether it is intelligent or not is up to you to decide.  This is a collection of essays about ideas.  Ideas need to be discussed, ergo, my referencing Juan Williams.  When we cease to discuss ideas, we cease to grow, and when we cease to grow, we cease to be.  These articles or essays, or opinion pieces are presented as Entries.   Perhaps, you will find something which you can relate too, object too, or perhaps neither.  It is my intention that you think about what is written and perhaps discuss it with someone else, and to challenge yourself, and just maybe, perhaps discuss it with someone whose opinion is not the same as yours.