Writing Can Be Interesting

 If there is one thing I have not done is plagiarize.  I don't think.  All writers have simular ideas as others, but every writer has their own way of expressing themselves.  I might read something and glean ideas, but plagiarism involves a word for word idea or thought.  We aren't talking about phrases, but actually lifting full paragraphs from others. I don't believe I have written much over the years that are my own ideas, but I can honestly say I have never plagiarized a work, as my writing will often attest.

Such is not the case with a Duke University student giving her speech to her own fellow senior graduates at a Duke University graduation.  Her work was primarily lifted from a speech a Harvard grad gave to his class in 2014.  When this was pointed out to Duke's administration, the speech was taken off the Duke website and other actions were to follow.  I don't give a lot of details here, because if you are interested you can look up the article and read it for yourself.

I don't use the space here for lengthy essays or news reports, but will just give the important details.  But the fact is that there is nothing new under the sun to borrow a cliche from the Bible.  But the fact is too, that how we express ourselves in writing is at least our own thoughts and words.  Ideas come from many places, as does inspiration.  Mark Twain, for example, has inspired many writers.  This Havard student that gave the address in 2014 should be thrilled to see his speech plagiarized, and may have inspired her, but the fact is that he was probably quite unhappy someone stole his thoughts and words with a few changes here and there.  

To earn the place of addressing her fellow classmates she had to submit a 250 word essay with other students competing for this opportunity.  Her essay won.  So she had to write her speech.  Much of what she did was to plagiarize the ideas, the paragraphing, and the wording.  It was almost verbatim.  The article didn't state what actions either Harvard or Duke would take against her, but the fact is that she plagiarized almost word for word, and then she took credit for the speech being her own. 

No one is copying my works here, for sure.  I am sitting here smoking my Viking pipe with some Bosun Ready Rub tobacco I received in the mail Sunday.  I now have a variety of tobacco to smoke and was running out of my Good Stuff/Cherry blend.  I doubt seriously anyone would plagiarize my essays.  It was hard enough coming up with the name for this blog.  I didn't want to steal ideas from others.  I don't think anyone would accuse me of having done so.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each of you.

Dave