Open marketplace of ideas is our fundamental right as writers
September 16th, 2008
It began with the idea – originally an English philosophical idea – that no one should fear bringing up unpopular ideas because truth will continually defeat falsehood. As naïve and hopeful as this idea seems, if you push the notion one more step, you create the right to place any idea into the marketplace. So what began with John Milton and John Stuart Mill evolved into the “open marketplace of ideas” when Thomas Jefferson got a grip on it.
What are we talking about here? We’re talking about what has become known as the “open marketplace of ideas,” and how that notion — fundamentally necessary in this culture — worked its way into the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and what that means. Sure, most studies of these topics might require a book shelf, so we’re doing our best to highlight it here in five minutes.
Every writer should know at least this much.
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Use active verbs, pursue an active life
September 13th, 2008
If you say things like, All my decisions are made by someone else, or, Things just seem to happen to me, or, My grades are being destroyed by circumstances. Do you get the idea? Let me put that passively for you: Was the idea gotten by you? Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? It’s worse than ridiculous. That mode of existence can and will demolish your self-respect, dismantle the respect from others who can make a difference for you, and will undermine your future.
This podcast goes beyond advice about using active rather than passive verbs and urges you to begin living active lives. This is the cheapest and best psychological lesson you will get today.
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