I WAS born in Andover in February 1935, so I have seen events and history made.
Why do I write? It is in defence of any threat overt or covert to a free press.
Totalitarian regimes with a state-controlled press and radio and much more?
Hitler, Stalin and his successors.
Pol Pot, Cambodia. Papa Doc Duvalier, Haiti, General Pinochet, Chile. Saddam Hussein, Iraq. Col Gaddafi, Libya.
Idi Amin, Uganda.
These are a few of a totalitarian mindset. North Korea also comes to mind.
“Oh,” you say, “it could never happen here — democracy wouldn’t stand for it.”
Can you make that a promise to me – can you be sure?
Given time a small hole can sink a large ship.
Those in high places, who are in power of any sort, who legislate and pull the levers of control can have motives and agendas unknown to us and hidden from us.
It pays to be aware. A free press we should value highly, and should properly be seen no doubt as an unwelcome threat by some who wish that freedom controlled.
A controlled press and radio are usually the first steps to control over freedoms. History is surely proof enough.
David Tait, Evingar Road, Whitchurch
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