The War on Truth

“‘This is the world of the strong leaders who hate the free press and truth,’ says Can Dündar, who, after being charged with revealing state secrets and nearly assassinated as a newspaper editor in Turkey, fled to Germany.

“That world is led, in some ways, by a U.S. President whose embrace of despots and attacks on the press has set a troubling tone. 

“‘I think the biggest problem that we face right now is that the beacon of democracy, the one that stood up for both human rights and press freedom — the United States — now is very confused,’ says Maria Ressa, editor of the online Philippines news site Rappler. ‘What are the values of the United States?’”

—Karl Vick, reporter, “The Guardians and the War on Truth,” TIME’s Person of the Year 2018.

• Editorial Comment: Good question.




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Where Poppies Grow

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“I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard