The ministry of disinformation

I OFTEN receive puzzled looks when I say freedom of expression is as controlled here in Spain as in many parts of the world.

By and large people do as they wish. Living a conventional life, they work, play and socialise. Only those who challenge the system know freedom of expression is an illusion.

We all know topics one doesn’t discuss openly. There are many ‘don’t go there’ issues not yet illegal. The thought-fashionistas ensure one will be an outcast of society if one should stray ‘off message.’

People in Britain complain about TV repeats; they won’t include the once much loved Black and White Minstrel Show. The student rag magazines of the 1960s would today put their publishers in jail.

Many TV repeats have been severely blue-pencilled. They changed the name of a dog in one.

Simon Heffer is a respected UK journalist: “This is, in theory still a free country, but our politically correct, censorious times are such that many of us tremble to give vent to perfectly acceptable views for fear of condemnation.

Freedom of speech is thereby imperilled, big questions go un-debated, and great lies become accepted, unequivocally as great truths.”

Apart from immigration policies there are its consequences. Such is the fear of prosecution; loss of liberty, job and home this important issue is debated only among trusted friends.

In the UK people are imprisoned for expressing hostility to the consequences of immigration. We are not talking violence but of the printed and spoken word which does not inflame passions; it doesn’t have to for it to be punishable.

Who dares to challenge local authorities who evict families of those convicted of being too outspoken?

In many parts of Europe, especially France, Germany and Austria, heretics who dare question the propaganda of WW2 victors’ face up to five years in prison; scores including academics are imprisoned.

There is much to read in mainstream media; there is much you will not read. In the West many government departments feed the media distortions; they can’t all be checked.

Austrian-American Edward Bernays, described as the father of public relations: ‘The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society.

‘Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. It is regimenting the public mind every bit as much as an army regiments the bodies of its soldiers.”

Today we have the freedom of the caged bird; we have little idea of who our unseen gaolers are or what freedom of thought lies outside.

We cheered when the barriers dividing Europe were raised but had their purpose been served?

Was it merely removing the netting that separated one part of the aviary from the other?

It is all for the public good. Isn’t it always?

Read this now; you may not be able to in 2022.