In 2017, the American newspaper ‘The Washington Post’ adopted the official slogan: ‘Democracy dies in darkness.’ It was supposed to refer, among other things, to the Watergate scandal. The newspaper’s investigative journalist Bob Woodward, one of those who exposed the Watergate scandal, used these words in 2007 to criticize covert government actions that he said were undermining democracy. The new slogan caused an avalanche of searches for the word “democracy” on the Internet, but critics derided the newspaper for choosing a pretentious and, above all, untrue slogan. Democracy does not die in the dark, but in broad daylight. For everyone.
This is what happens to us. The new Polish authorities rejected the principles of democracy and the systemic rules of the game to forcibly take over the public media. You might have expected outrage in the Western enlightened media, which in recent years has lectured us about pluralism, objectivity and the rule of law. That a journalist gets angry in the name of principles. But no, the news of the brutal burglary of the headquarters of TVP, PAP and Polish Radio by (partially) armed thugs was considered a ‘depoliticization’ of the media, their repair. Terms such as ‘reform’ and ‘restoration of order’ were used. PiS politicians who protested in front of and in public media buildings were seen as ‘evil’ and ‘enraged’ and their efforts were considered an ‘occupation’. The German media were of course at the forefront of this and could hardly hide their satisfaction.
On this occasion, many people were reminded of the Polish People’s Republic, and associations with the Banana Republic came to mind. I remembered watching in a documentary how Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar hired a left-wing guerrilla in 1985 to storm and paralyze the Supreme Court because he disagreed with the judges’ decision to declare “narcos.” supply to the US. Twelve judges died at that time. In the 1980s, Colombia was almost a failed state. Poland is still a long way from that point. But once applied, powerful methods often persist. You pulled journalists out of the media by their hair, and they will pull you out too.
It is very disturbing that no Western media has attempted to describe the situation even remotely objectively. Breaking the law was justified because “TVP practiced PiS propaganda.” Democracy cannot be restored by undemocratic methods. It’s like putting out a fire with gasoline. Anne Applebaum, a journalist from ‘Washington Post’, debated with maniacal persistence with German pundit Sergej Sumlenny on as objective. Applebaum explained to him that “PiS officers had illegally controlled television and radio for years.” This is clearly not true. One can only surmise that when it comes to darkness, it is darkest under the light of the Washington Post editorial staff. It seems that all journalists in the West can do today is first construct events, create a fictional world and then cover it with protests. Don’t dispute what exists, but your own interpretation. And it’s all about caring for the common good. For the whole world.
The principle seems simple: if a politician/party belongs to the liberal establishment, he can do anything: restrict freedom of expression as in Ireland, lift immunity in the European Parliament for liking a tweet, prosecute him for differing views of the progressive canon of elegance. For example, for the opinion that a woman is not a man. Liberal democracy has not existed for so long because it consistently limits freedom. This is the main reason for the success of anti-establishment parties such as Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and the Sweden Democrats. Attempts to establish media monopolies did not help. At first glance it is a democratic facade, even decorative, but underneath it says ‘Ein Staat, eine Politik, ein Gedanke’ (one state, one policy, one thought). It does not work anymore. At least in the West.
So there was hope that it would be possible at least in Poland. Tusk, you have to! – could be heard immediately after the elections from “Die Welts” and other “Die Zeits”. Poland as the last sausage of Count Kent of the Liberals. Sound desperate? Because that’s what it is. According to the freedom index published every year in Germany, only 40 percent Germans believe they can express their opinions freely. Thanks to Tusk and Hołownia, Poland have the chance to match them. We will finally reach the West and its norms. And the media there, abroad, will continue to turn a blind eye. According to the most beautiful rule of all idiots: what I don’t know doesn’t exist.
Source: wPolityce