Pressure Received

May 6, 1968
by Amy

Dad called me today. He hasn't lost his job. Instead, he's been told to lay off the peace movement.

He said it came from his editor, who told him that he would like to see him write about 'other subjects.'

"There's an election, you know. Why don't we switch gears and talk about the election?"

It surprised me when Dad told me about it. I didn't think he was writing about the movement itself as much as he was the war in general.

"Everyone knows where you stand." the editor said. "Move on."

He's pissed, as well he should be. There is no such thing as a free press here. Either they're governed by advertisers or City Hall. Either Daley runs the whole town or none of it. You can't have it in the middle.

My Dad has been at the paper for 25 years now, longer than I've been alive. It was his employment there that made him feel secure enough to have a child.

Now, he doesn't know what to think. We are in the middle of a war, even if the paper chooses not to capitalize the W. For the first time, Dad feels the war is wrong. He's wasn't against World War II. He felt the Korean War was justified, but this is different. South Vietnam doesn't want Imperialists in their midst. They want the right to self-determination.

He's begged me not to tell anyone at Dearborn what's going on. He doesn't want this to be a problem, or else he could lose his job.

I don't know how I feel about that. We're used to not having a level playing field when it comes to the city. But I think they should know exactly what's going on.

The worst part is the pressure they're putting on Dad. Their 'off the record' comments. He's already lost a few sources. Once they find out about me... "It's already difficult with your activities. It's not that I think you should stop. But everyone knows what you're doing, and they'd like me to stop you from doing it."

Difficult? Definitely. My parents still don't know about my broken wrist. They know I was there, but they don't exactly what happened.

Sometimes not knowing is better. But I don't think I can keep my cast a secret for the next month or so. And I think Glasses ought to know the kind of pressure people like my Dad are feeling.