Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Into the Void with John Miller

I was recently asked why I "slander" people in my column. My response was a frivolous, "It's my hobby." While it sounded cute at the time, I'm sure it, too, was offensive to someone.

The truth is, no one is slandered, nor are they libeled. While I may call the governor Huckleberry Hound and the president an idiot, this is not slanderous or libelous.

Why? Both are public people and, believe it or not, no malice is intended toward either. Personally, I believe both should be removed from office, but this is only my opinion  much like my column is nothing more than an opinion.

Last week I pointed out Dubbya's mental weaknesses on the budget and letting religious groups get their hands in the public till. I don't have a degree in accounting, nor do I have a staff surrounding me who does, yet I know better than to bet the farm on a surplus that may or may not come to fruition over the next 10 years, and this is how Dubbya plans on paying for a $1.6 trillion tax cut.

Religious groups have plenty of ways to raise money without getting public funds. This is not a knock on religious groups. Frankly, though, I firmly believe in the separation of church and state. Truthfully, the two mingle more than is safe or smart now, and letting religious groups get tax money would be opening a can of worms best left closed. Unless, of course, these groups are willing to open their records to public inspection under the Freedom of Information Act, or are willing to start paying taxes on tithes.

Yes, I do refer to the governor by the name of a cartoon character, but some of his recent statements and actions are the reasons for the new moniker. The triple-wide mobile home he accepted to live in while the governor's mansion was being renovated did and will hurt Arkansas' ability to attract industry, while also helping keep the state's stereotypical image alive. As the state's leader and spokesman, he never should have said it was a banana republic. Even if it were a joke, it should never have been said on a national broadcast as it, again, reinforced the state's poor image with the rest of the nation.

Now I don't know how anyone else feels, and frankly don't care, but Arkansas is my home state and I'm proud of it. We don't need the governor running it down. If he doesn't like it he can quit his job and go somewhere else.

But that's not why I tend to be a bit nasty in print. People, the job of a columnist is to get the public's attention and try to get the people who read it to think. This is what I do. How I do it, though, seems to offend people, and this is all right. People need to be offended from time to time  it forces them to think. As to my style, well, I've always preferred wading in with implements of destruction to get my message across instead of being tactful or diplomatic.

This is also the way I write poetry. (Forgive me for being a poet, but I don't have a choice. It just happens now and then.) I refer to it as "sledgehammer" poetry, because most of the poetry I've had to read over the years is sickening.

Remember, if what is written is offensive to you, then the writer has at least done part of his or her job. First, the piece was read, and second, it made the reader react and think.

For those who don't care for my particular style feel free to write letters to the editor and express your own opinions. The free and open exchange of ideas is a great thing. The only problem is it isn't done often enough.

Your faithful scribe will continue wielding his poison pen to get your attention, make you think and get ideas and opinions out in the open.

P.S.  I also like being nasty, it really is my hobby.