"We Shouldn't Let Ourselves Get Stepped On!!"

This week, my good friend Gene Cilberti released a new, self-published book wherein he personified yours truly as a very noble......ANT. (Check this book, and 15 OTHERS of Gene's works, on Amazon.)

Anyway, in light of the fact that I was the inspiration for "Dante" the Ant in Gene's book, the title of this blog may seem a bit. ....unusual, so let me explain (Lol)!! You may recall my blog of April 30th where I (once again) felt that the local paper who printed my stuff deliberately botched it because I'm a Christian. Three days ago I wrote the paper to say that I quit, and I've received three very nice responses urging me to STAY.  Below is my letter of resignation, followed by the other e-mails....

MY E-MAIL TO EDITOR ON MAY 15th---

Hi, _____

After 5 years (this month) of submitting art / poems to your paper, I thought it's only fair that I should tell you that I'm out and not to expect any more from me in the future.  I do thank you for the times you printed my stuff, but this note to tell you why I'm out in the hopes that it might do you good.  

As you never answered my last inquiry, sent twice, regarding why my last poem's title was botched, you leave me free to draw my own conclusions...and I conclude, with abundant evidence from my own experience and the experience of others, that I am / we are the victims of anti-Christian bias by your paper and that this is the latest manifestation of it.  This bias began a few years ago when you started allowing the Muslim man a full page spread to write errors about Christianity and would not allow myself and others the chance to merely correct the misinformation about us.  There are several examples showing a pattern of bias which I'll not get into, but when I saw my latest poem (which mentioned Jesus) with the title inexcusably botched by you, and the Muslim man's new full-page piece obviously given favoritism and carefully reproduced to reflect what HE wrote (and while you did not answer my e-mails asking why my piece got messed with), well, that's the last straw, _____. Now, no one in their right mind and with a right heart would deny the Muslim man "equal time" but I have personal knowledge of some fellow Christians, who, along with myself have seen that we have been biased against by your paper, while the other gentleman gets favored. And THIS is not right, either.

I could go on and on, but I'll spare you and just say again....I'm out.  And thank you again for 5 years when (MANY times, at least) you printed my stuff "as is" without what appear to be deliberate screw-ups reflective of your paper's bias.

Chet Jelinski

FIRST RESPONSE FROM PUBLISHER, MAY 16th

Chet,

On behalf of ______ Publishing we sincerely apologize for any errors that have been printed in the last few issues. We have been intercepting _____'s emails on her behalf to make sure the paper still went to production. She has been out due to a medical emergency and has been unable to respond to emails. We are sorry for any errors that went to print but assure you it was not due to any bias. We would be happy to reprint your poem that had run with error in the upcoming June Issue.

Thanks

______ Publishing

AFTER I DIDN'T RESPOND, SOMEONE ELSE WROTE ME YESTERDAY...

Dear Chet – I am writing in response to your email to _____ ____ editor at _________ ___. I work at ___ and we layout and print the paper. _____ has been out for 2 months after a serious surgery. That is why she did not answer any inquiry from you at this time. I only had one poem in the paper from you last issue (May) issue and that was the poem about the Waxwing bird. I put it along with other poems together on one page. I’m not sure what exactly was wrong with the poem you mention the title was botched. We are extremely sorry for whatever mistake was made on your poem, but hopefully you will reconsider sending articles in to _____ as she wasn’t able to correct any mistakes to articles last issue as she was and still is recovering from her surgery. Thank you – _____. - ___

AT THIS POINT, I REPLIED AS FOLLOWS (YESTERDAY)...

Thanks _____, 

I will reconsider but just to clarify, the mistake in the title of my poem did not come from me....as I demonstrated in the two e-mails I sent, I had "Eloquent" spelled correctly in my original submission.  In any event, THANK YOU and God Willing, I'll send something next month.

THE FINAL, HAPPY RESPONSE LEADING TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION...

Hi we all appreciate your reconsideration. _____ is on the mend after surgery and looking forward to getting back to working on the _________ ___ as soon as she feels up to working again. Sorry for the mistake in the headline, and hopefully your poems will be in the paper once again. Thank you again – _____. - ___.

I'm reprinting all of this because it shows that sometimes when you take a stand, very positive things happen.  I got to make my point and the paper's reps got to SEE it.  I'm going to give it another shot with them, and if I'm given equal treatment, FINE but if the "petty persecution" continues, I'm gone for good with no further explanation, or communication, needed.

Some of us, especially CHRISTIANS, need to start standing up for what's right.  Yes, we're to suffer persecution quietly and without resistance FOR THE GOSPEL'S SAKE but when we see discrimination in POLICY we need to speak up more and not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.  And Christian WIVES should never think that godly submission to husbands means being a doormat!! NO CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE AN ENABLER OF EVIL, BY THEIR SILENCE. Take it from "Dante" the Ant, Lol....we shouldn't allow ourselves to get stepped on!!