Peace or Silence

While we don't have much use for dark forests or ghosts anymore, we tolerate an amazing amount of suffering because it is convenient. We avoid making difficult decisions because it is convenient. We avoid creating meaningful change if it means it will cost a little more. We don't have much use for inconvenient expenses. We often avoid speaking about issues we face, for fear of rocking the boat.

Is it possible to critique people you may someday work for, (or work with)? Is it possible to speak out when you see others being taken advantage of? Or is the fear of provoking people leading you to censor yourself?

I think there's more options available than be silent or never work again. But how do we get past vague jeremiads and arguments-for-arguments-sake if we're scared to include specifics because it may step on someone's toes?

We make small choices that have major consequences we don't think about every day.

Two of my favorite quotes come from Roosevelts:

"If given the choice between Righteousness and Peace, I choose Righteousness." -- Theodore Roosevelt

"Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another. But by all means, try something." --Franklin D. Roosevelt

Has fear of provocation replaced fear of dark woods and ghosts? If you're facing a difficult decision: do you make the easy choice, or the right choice?

I've been only threatened with retribution a handful of times for things I've written: a couple critics, an AD here and there, etc. I never used to give it a second thought. I'd say what came to my mind. If I thought something was wrong, or someone was wronged, I'd say so. I'm still not sure if I've very good at looking the other way about many things.

But at times I wonder how much to speak up, how much to let go. I'm not very concerned with myself. But are there times that speaking up hurt artists I work with?

 Is there a difference between expedience and convenience? Where should the line be drawn?