I Apologize

For those of you that don't know (most likely no one 'cause nobody reads this) I tend to stick my foot in my mouth a lot. I'm not real good at pickin' the right words to make someone feel better or expressin' how I feel. At least not when I'm talkin'.



I tend to be quiet and shy in person. I'm rarely the center of attention. I don't want to be. I have never felt like anything I've ever done was somethin' that everyone should take notice of. I'm just a young guy from Texas that's broke as hell. I work. I went to school (graduated with my associates and tryin' to get my bachelor's in English soon as I get some funds together). I'm not a rocket scientist. I'm no zen master. I know that I have yet to bring anything truly worth while to the world.



When I choose my words for my writing, I have much more time to think about what I want to say. I usually have time to say exactly what I want. I'm a much better writer than I am a speaker (so you can tell I can't talk for nuthin'). Even with my words carefully chosen I can still manage to stick my foot in my mouth.



Some people would say that calls for an apology. If you say somethin' and you hurt a person's feelin's you should say you're sorry. You should be considerate of other people's feelin's. A man doesn't start any unneccessary conflict.



A man also doesn't run from conflict. A man has the responsibility to tell people the truth.

As a writer I can only tell you what I know, what I've seen, and what I've learned. I can not form your opinions for you. It's not my job to tell you what to think or feel about anything I say or do any more than it is your job to tell me how to think or feel.



My duty is to tell the truth as I see it. I have my own opinions, my own thoughts, my way of doin' things. As I friend I will always tell you the truth. If you should be able to depend on anyone to give it to you straight it should be you friends. It shouldn't matter if the truth is what you want to hear or not. As a man I won't cower from my thoughts. If I don't like somethin' you're gonna know it. If I think somethin's not just I'll make it right. If I don't like you I won't hide the fact.



Now, none of that means that I can't be civil. I know when I've said my piece that's all that needs to be done. I am not an animal. I never set out to say anything to piss anyone off. If I have or I have ever offended anyone that happens to be the regrettable casualty in any statement.



I will not apologize for my thoughts or opinions. I will admit that I may have been wrong or misinformed. To apologize for what I have said , however, would be to erase whatever thoughts or feelings I had at the time of any writing or statement I ever made. I can't please everyone. I'm well aware of this fact. I can only be me and do what I believe is right at any given time.



In short, I apologize for nothing.



"Well I know what's right,
I got just one life
in a world that keeps on pushin' me around
but I'll stand my ground, and I won't back down"



-"I Won't Back Down", Tom Petty, 1989