By Grace Chambers*

Writers do not say what we all can say but what we are unable to or afraid to say. They constantly struggle against silence, fear, and abuse of all sorts, while the rest of us endure. What is it that enables writers and disables the rest of us? What makes writers shout and others whisper or do not speak at all? Some people were never asked why and they never ask why. Accustomed to dictation, they become dependent and accepting, never searching, always absorbing (good or evil), never unburdening. They are threatened by the voices that preach confidentiality; they fear the voices that have somehow convince them that standing up will costs their future and their children’s future; they are  controlled, brain washed perhaps because there is nothing confidential about hoarding  daily injections of poison, and abuse. You know they want to speak, their eyes scream, face droop, and their bodies crouch, constantly in a silent whisper to anyone who will listen. But fear and threat, those big sticks  keep them quiet.

Writers are not threatened by fear. In fact they do not have enough fear to remain silent, to see wrong and call it right or to ignore what most people would. Writers expose the darkness other people cannot or do not want to see. They erase the silence of the paralyzed, enlighten the ignorant, and mobilize the relaxed. Writers don’t worry about what others will think, say or do. They have broad shoulders and backs too. The consequences scarcely matter. What is seen, felt, heard or inferred will find its way on paper. Job loss, law suits, or even broken ties…writers will not be silenced. They walk for those who are psychologically amputated, speak for the mute, see for the visionless and listen for the hearing impaired.

Writers are not impulsive. They are in the minority; they take the path of greatest resistance, and take time to think about an issue. Expecting their ideas to be unpopular they prepare for opposition. They are non conformist if conforming is wrong. They may not say much but their actions write boldly. Some say its non-cooperation. But that is OK as long as the message is respectfully sent and correctly decoded. Writers are educators; eye openers; they put the Y in why, and then find the answers.

*Grace Chambers is a member of the Cayman Writers Circle

The Cayman Writers Circle has an open membership to anyone interested in writing. They meet every Tuesday at 7pm at various locations. For more info email: [email protected]  and/or visit the website: http://caymanwriterscircle.blogspot.com/