Dear Editor:
When I heard the news that White House press secretary Sean Spicer had stated: “this (Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony) was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration – period – both in person and around the globe,” I felt sick.
In spite of clear photographic evidence taken from the same angle, same perspective and same framing comparing the Obama 2009 inauguration with the 2017 Trump inauguration which clearly shows the sparsity of attendance, Trump and his press secretary did not hesitate to utter this blatant falsehood.
I immediately thought of the massacre at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.
Hundreds of peacefully demonstrating students were killed by government troops, students calling only for democracy, greater accountability and freedom of the press — things that we in the West take for granted.
The next day, the Chinese government denied that the massacre or protest even took place.
This, in spite of foreign journalists’ photo and video documentation of the event. “A western fabrication” said government officials and then they expelled all foreign journalists.
I am terrified of the smothering of the free press in the United States.
If no one is watching, all kinds of atrocities can take place.
We’ve already seen how members of the president’s staff are summarily fired even in the middle of a campaign.
With no press watching, people will start to “disappear.” One moment they are standing beside the president in a photo shoot and the next day none of the photographs will contain that person.
Sean Who? Never heard of him.
As for clear independent photo evidence, be prepared for “the media intentionally framed pictures and video to …”
Be prepared for White House officials lashing out at journalists who, after being “invited” to attend press conferences, dare to question the president’s actions or motives.
Be prepared for a campaign aimed at destroying the media’s credibility by confusing fact with opinion and reality with exaggeration.
A free and open media is the lifeblood of a free society.
If you want proof, look at Russia, China and North Korea.
Criticism keeps us honest, but if no one is watching, we have only our own moral compass to guide us.
And if our compass points in the direction of might is right and do unto others before they do unto you, we are in deep trouble.
Anita Perry
Summerland