Idyllic Thoughts

Most writers believe that their piece is perfect, a literary gem. They think editing it is like merciless cutting of a flawless diamond by a gem-challenged idiot. I remembered such instances from my editing times when I was re-reading and enjoying an article 'Writers and Editors' by Michael Kingsley. Those slogging behind a computer to make sense of write-ups sent to the paper know the uphill task ahead of them. We would be subject to entreaties, threats of I-will-tell-the -Chief Editor-if-you-cut-a-letter, give-take cases like I-have-given-your-paper-this-big-an-ad-so-you-have-to-publish-my-news-as-it-is, sieving and discarding the chaff and collecting grains of publishable words which were few... When they send 500 words, and we reduce it to 30 words, imagine their ire. That's what every newspaper office has to deal with.

The world may or may not have been borne on the shoulders by Atlas, according to Greek mythology. But in modern times, it surely is the onus of a piece of paper to bear the whole world on its shoulders -- money. I'm sure this statement of mine needs no elaboration. I see opinions bought, countries crippled, kingdoms crumbled and men broken -- all because of that piece of paper. Why? Isn't life more important? 

I like the devil in me, for she hits the bull's eye of truth and makes me watch it when all I wish to do is hide from it. But I love the angel in me, for she tells me wisely to ignore that bull's eye of truth if, by uttering it, I am bound to cut the fine, silken threads of friendship/relationship.