Freedom should never be taken for granted
The press must never allow themselves to be manipulated by government agencies
Opinion
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WITH Anzac Day just a few months away, we should never forget the great cost that men and women gave on the altar of sacrifice during the great wars, right up to the present time for freedom.
Our freedom came hard won against insurmountable odds and is often taken for granted in modern times.
I had a timely reminder recently with two films that I watched: The Post and The 5.17 to Paris.
One is about the freedom of the press, the other is about terrorism.
The printed media must be free from politics, religion and those with a secret agenda.
The press must never allow themselves to be manipulated by government agencies to withhold the truth no matter how unpleasant.
I am concerned that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has put forward a proposal against releasing classified documents.
The press must always be the vox populi - the voice of the people.
With real freedom being eroded everywhere and people becoming spectators in their own lives instead of participating in the game of life, l fear a major slide into government contro.
I feel now that something is being acted out and by stealth.
Open your eyes and look.
Shakespeare had it right in Hamlet: "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man..."
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a novel Tender is the Night - is the night so tender that we have gone to sleep, oblivious to the horror and sadness of our fellow travellers?
Is it far easier to compromise our values and freedom just too hard to stand for?
ROBERT McBEATH
Raceview
Originally published as Freedom should never be taken for granted
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