SOME THOUGHTS ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
I
always enjoy those who would have history conform to their own notions of how
it "ought to have been", and/or what an historical event, or
document, "should have meant". Vide, Those with notions about freedom
of the press being "special rights"; and notions about the
"purpose" of the press being "defined to be".
Back
in the days before such marvels as radio, TV, Internet, etc., etc., the press -
in any and all forms - was the staple source for information. In
Our
Founding Fathers knew - from experience - that an informed public was the best
assurance of continuing freedom for all; and enshrined NO CENSORSHIP as part of
the Constitutional guarantees upon which our rights as Americans are based. The
purpose there was to have EVERY opinion, point of view, and idea available in
the marketplace - even the imbecilic notions of those who would shut off
information that was contrary to their own set of delusions, fantasies, and
beliefs - such as the Roman Religion's, "Index of Prohibited Books",
would continue to try to do for centuries to come; after we in America gained
freedom of the press, as just one example of the forces of ignorance,
stupidity, and censorship.
Even
today, the forces of ignorance and regression - both political and religious -
would have us return to the days when censorship prevailed; cloaking their
sinister intentions in high sounding rhetoric about what history
"did", as they think it "should have done".
Journalistic
integrity is NOT, in and of itself, a measurable quality. It always lies in the
area of the mind of the person agreeing, or disagreeing, with the information
presented. And, those who would tell you otherwise are merely today's agents of
those same forces of superstition, ignorance, stupidity, and regression, who
would return the world to a state of mindless obedience to, and slavish
following of, the whimsies and self-aggrandizing delusions of those who claim
to be specially inspired, or chosen to be above others.
A
free press is the guarantee of a free people!
And
it's up to each and every one of us to keep it that way.
Till
next time then,
Yore Cowlorado Correspondent
Revised, 10/11/09