Article 19...
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers...
It's a guilty pleasure that most of my friends admit to. The ones that deny it, not only have the app on their iPhones, but probably get updates texted to them daily. This guilty pleasure that I speak of is the celebrity bash-blog written by Perez Hilton. No relation to Paris Hilton, Perez was the Miss America judge that asked Miss California how she felt about gay marriage. The rest, as they say, is history. Perez has written about everyone and anyone that has had their name in the headlines including actresses and musicians.
Last night, one of Perez's targets approached him at an awards ceremony and, of course, a fight ensued that left one man in jail and Perez with a nice shiner. Shocker!
As a blog writer and the recent recipient of some harsh words regarding a blog I had written, let me first say that I know my rights as a writer and stand behind every word I put my name under. My feelings are that if you write it, you own it, and you stand by it. The difference between Perez and I is that I am ready to take punches for what I write and very ready to throw them on its behalf. Writing is speaking without a voice and, much like speaking, you can't take those words back once they're out. Please do not mistake passion for what I write with a lack of regret. I have regretted things that I wrote, but that comes with the territory and I have learned that being a reflective writer is safer than being an "in the moment" writer.
My advice for Perez is expect reaction from your action. Expect punches from your words.
Do the write thing,
Courtney
