Another Opinion on Writing About Politics

After posting my piece on writing about politics, I came across an entry in author John Scalzi's"Whatever" Blog, which addresses the same issue. I guess other writers do indeed want to talk about politics. A written piece, in any form, is a writer's creative expression and opinion. I like what he says about it in his blog:

"Why yes, fiction writers should write about politics, if they choose to. And so should doctors and plumbers and garbage collectors and lawyers and teachers and chefs and scientists and truck drivers and stay-at-home parents and the unemployed. In fact, every single adult who has reason enough to sit down and express an opinion through words should feel free to do just that. Having a citizenry that is engaged in the actual working of democracy matters to the democracy, and writing about politics is a fine way to provide evidence that one is actually thinking about these things."

"Do readers really think it’s wise that writers, of all people, stay quiet on the matters that affect their lives and the lives of their families, friends and nation, because some person they don’t even know might feel slightly discomfited, and doesn’t have the wit to separate a work of fiction from the largely unrelated real world concerns of the writer?"

So, hold our tongues? I think not. We are, quite fortunately, a free country and if we are outraged, we should say so. If we are distraught, we should say so. Our current political situation calls on both of these emotions and speaks loudly to the fact that we should say what we think and comment on what is going on around us. We are privileged to live in a place where we are able to do this without reservation and without punishment.