The Power of the Pen

"Go out and tell our story.

Let it echo far and wide.

Make them hear you.

Make them hear you...

Your sword can be a sermon

Or the power of the pen.

Teach every child to raise his voice

And then, my brother, then

Will justice be demanded

By ten million righteous men.

Make them hear you..."

~ Lyrics from the musical, Ragtime ~

After reading this AP story about there being fewer journalists killed in 2010, I started thinking about these unseen, but widely heard voices.  Sometimes voices of truth, other times voices skewed by an agenda, but free voices nonetheless.  I am by no means an expert on freedom of the press or the consequences of media's influence, but I do know that it has changed the world, opening people's eyes through words and pictures.  And I can't imagine someone being killed for this.  Then again, social influence can be so much more powerful than violence.  Thanks to those journalists out there, using their words and images to fight alongside our brave soldiers.