When my son returned from his holiday on Sark, one of the smallest Channel Islands he brought back a couple of books about the German Occupation of those Islands during the Second World War. I read these works with a good deal of interest, particularly the one which concerned itself with the underground newspaper published at great risk to themselves by the islanders.
As usual in an occupied country accurate news was suppressed by the Nazis, radio's were forbidden and the only news that was permitted was the German propaganda which was meant to confuse and demoralise the oppressed population
In spite of this a few brave souls published regularly the Guernsey Underground Newspaper Service or G.U.N.S for short, in which the truth about the progress of the war was published without favour if in fear.
The people who undertook this perilous venture kept alive the true spirit of the people of the island and encouraged the victory campaign which caused the occupying force many headaches by the organisation of disruptive activities and the painting of the V for Victory sign in some very inopportune places. Although this may seem a small thing it did wonders for the moral of a people who felt themselves powerless in the grip of those who could not possibly have their best interests at heart.
Some of those who contributed to and published the paper were captured and sent to concentration camps,this cost some of them their lives but still others came along to pick up where they left off.
These men fought for free speech as have many others in many countries and we should fight to the end to maintain the unassailable right for people to be told the truth. Even today there are those who do not wish you to know what is really going on and they will go to any length to prevent the truth from being told. Why? Because it is not in their interests that YOU should know the truth.
The people who publish these unwelcome facts often run the same risks today as those men of Guernsey did all those years ago. Any one who seeks to suppress the truth for their own protection or profit as a means of keeping people from acting upon the true facts is no better than the Nazis on Guernsey and believe me people like theses are still out there. There are those who will tell you that the truth is often withheld to protect the public,to prevent panic,etc. Oh please, do they think that we are all idiots because to believe that clap trap you would have to be. Not all issues are of world importance but the truth I the truth and that is the bottom line, no one has the right to cause it to be withheld for any reason.
It cannot be denied that members of the press have overstepped the mark many times but do not let this be used as an excuse to bridle honest reporting of the facts. If unpalatable facts were not broadcast how would we know about violation of human rights. How should we have discovered the scandal of M. Ps abuse of expenses and many other matters of import.
Telling the truth may well have cost Dr Kelly his life when he insisted that the Iraqi's did not have any W.M.D.'s. The suppression of the facts and the refusal to hold an inquest has only fanned the flames of suspicion it seems to me.
Piers Morgan and Greg Dyke lost there jobs for reporting what we now know to be the truth about the Iraq war. Even so they have received no apology from those politician's who insisted upon their dismissal because they found the truth embarrassing.
It is up to every one of us to fight this type of coercion, it is up to all of us to defend our right and the right of every man to know the truth about what is happening around him.
Every one of us should become a partisan in this cause , these rights were hard won by better men that us in tougher times than ours. If we fail to defend what they gave us we are in danger of returning to those time again.
The right to the truth either great or small is far to precious and hard won a right to be given up without a fight. Neither threats nor bribes should deter us all from seeking out and publishing “The Truth”.
Now I expect that you are wondering what to what truth I am referring , the answer is all truth, any truth, any information that people need in order for them to make informed judgements on important matters weather personal, or political . No one has the right to deny you this and yet it happens all the time.
If we adhere to nothing but the truth we are untouchable,in law, but are we untouchable in fact? I think not. So remember if you do not uphold this right you will surely lose it. I fight on as best I can! How about you!
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