Rutger Bregman, a Dutch author and historian, accused the BBC of censorship by deleting a phrase from his lecture. Bregman had described Mr. Trump as the “most openly corrupt president in American history.”
Trump is already threatening to sue the BBC for between 1 and 5 BILLION dollars over editing a previous speech of his. The BBC has insisted it did not defame Trump and that it would not settle any lawsuit with him.
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BBC officials told Bregman that the line was being scrutinized by its lawyers in the United States and officials at the highest levels of the broadcaster. The day before the lecture aired on BBC Radio 4, he was told it had been edited out.
“They did say a legal situation played a role. They said this wouldn’t have happened if I did the lecture three months ago. That’s why I feel quite confident in saying they are bending the knee to authoritarianism,” said Bregman.
Bregman also said he had worked extensively with a team of BBC producers and editors to hone the four lectures. “This is not me standing behind a lectern and free-styling,” he said. “Every word was measured; every word was thought about.” The lecture, “is exactly about the cowardice of today’s elites, about universities, corporations and, yes, media networks, bending the knee to authoritarianism.”
So, the BBC just bent the knee on a lecture that talks about the dangers of bending the knee.
In Timothy Snyder's book, On Tyranny, the first lesson for fighting authoritarianism is Do Not Obey in Advance. The BBC just obeyed in advance. I highly recommend that book, by the way. The illustrated version is the best. It's quite easy to read, yet profound.
These are the twenty lessons from On Tyranny,
but you really need to read the book to fully understand these points.
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These are the twenty lessons from On Tyranny, but you really need to read the book to fully understand these points. |
Read More
Dutch Historian Accuses BBC of Censoring Trump Criticism ~ New York Times
BBC Rebuked for Censoring Historian Who Called Trump ‘Most Openly Corrupt President in American History’ ~ Common Dreams
Who to Contact
Your opinion only matters if you let someone know! The more people who speak up, the more meaningful our opinions will be. Tell them - DON'T OBEY IN ADVANCE!
Note: My postcard will emphasize the words that were deleted from Bregman's lecture - Trump is the “most openly corrupt president in American history.”
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