Disclaimer

Hello, gentle readers.

It has recently come to my attention that there may be a demographic in my readership which I might offend (unintentionally) by some of my various word choices.

It's been a very hard day, going back and forth on this subject. With myself and in conversation with others.

This is an interesting position to be in. This blog is intended to be informal. It's public in that I don't limit who reads it, but I am not advertising it nor seeking out a 'general readership.' It exists for my family and friends to gain glimpses into my life and what's going on in my brain.

I have been intentional in not using it as a diary or a memoir. I realize it is a public forum. That being said, I am not writing for the public. While I do not seek to offend, use inflammatory language for shock value, or aim to cause anyone emotional discomfort, I have come to the conclusion that, on occasion, something may slip out. When these words and phrases do come out, it is because they (in my opinion) most accurately reflect the emotional state which I wish to convey with the thought I am making at the time. They are not chosen arbitrarily. There is a reason that some words are considered "strong language." It is because they are, indeed, strong, and have a power not otherwise accessible.

I have spent quite a while reconsidering the possibly offensive word choices I have used since arriving in Palestine. I believe I can find four. As I see it, if I've lived for over two months in an occupied zone, watching an entire race of people being treated so inhumanely that radicals therein resort to equally inhumane terrorism, if I've managed to only swear four times, I'll take it as a victory. That being said, I have reconsidered two of the four word choices, as in retrospect they were unnecessary by my own definition. The other two I've left in. I apologize to any that may take offense therewith.

Questions/comments/witch burnings, hit me up. Be glad to hear them.