Editing
The editing process was not
the most challenging but it was the most frustrating. The frustrations spawned mainly from rereading the
transcripts and realizing how little was recorded on tape.
It made me realize just how much was said after the interview ended and
the tape was turned off, and what I have gained in random conversations around
campus. The greatest frustration
was the interview in which my batteries died in the first ten minutes, failing
to record much of anything—it was a particularly great interview too.
Any
part of a person’s life history is sensitive to that person and possibly
others who shared the experience. Editors must decide how to present the person, what
statements are important enough to publish and which can be omitted.
In dealing with the Vietnam War I was faced with massive implications of
Floyd’s life history. Not only did I have to think about the privacy of Floyd, his
family and friends, but I had to consider the possibility of who else may read
his story as well. The Vietnam War
was a highly polarized time in US history.
I wanted to strike at issues, thoughts and feelings Floyd had shared with
me that may benefit other Veterans. I
also knew that it is easy to misinterpret some things and cast a negative
portrayal of soldiers in Vietnam. Most
of all, I wanted it to be real. To
not discuss battles would be a disservice to the soldiers and to the reality
that a war was being fought. Unfortunately
this conversation occurred in the interview that was not recorded.
With that
said, I admit that I was picky about what is available for public viewing.
I removed my questions and long explanations.
Some things were rearranged for the sake of logic and flow.
I fixed grammar with a few exceptions where the dialect was important.
I hope that it still sounds like Floyd speaking.
Towards
the end of the process I realized how sacred my memories are and how selective I
am in sharing some of them. I am
definitely an introvert, although most people would think the opposite.
This is because I have a set of memories and thoughts that I share and
many more that I do not. I find myself protecting Floyd’s memories almost as
fiercely as I protect my own as I begin to grasp what an honor it is to receive
these stories. My only regret is
that I am a senior and must leave the story unfinished.
Floyd is nowhere near done talking.
I hope I am not done listening.