I never thought I would witness this madness that has been unfolding for almost a year in the country of my ancestors. Ancestors who never oppressed other nations, but only defended as best they could the heritage they had received from their elders—their land, their faith, their traditions. The supreme sacrifice they made so that all this could be passed on to us is now being trampled on, mocked, ignored, and deliberately “forgotten.” It’s so painful to see everything they fought for being taken away, sold for a few coins to outsiders who just want to take whatever they can.
All my ancestors defended and fought for is ripped off, sold for two pennies to greedy strangers eager to get their hands on everything that Romania has got left: natural resources (e.g. salt, water, graphene and rare minerals etc), extremely fertile agricultural land and state-owned companies vital for the national economy. I know it might sound a bit like a conspiracy theory, but I can assure you that this is not fake news – it’s the hard truth! If you’re someone who likes to stay up to date with the news and read between the lines, it’s totally understandable that they don’t want this fact exposed and they’re doing their best to cover it up. Typically, the question that emerges is how they do it. The answer lies in employing the oldest tricks in the book: manipulation and censorship.
as a legacy from our parents, but as a country we have borrowed
from our children.“
Michael of Romania
Censorship Walking around Wild and Free
The ultimate madness folks like me, who actually live in Romania, know history and geography, read real books at the right time, use both knowledge and discernment, it is impossible not to spot that there people—both behind the scenes and on the scene, who are on a mission to rewrite history, language and meaning. To these traitors—as I cannot find a better name for them, “patriot” means “pro-Russian“, “love of country” equals “nostalgia for the Ceausescu regime”, “sovereignty” is one and the same with “Legionnaires’ Movement”…
God forbid you dare say “Romanian people” or you are considered a fascist or anti-UE ! Or even worse, say something that contradicts the official storytelling! We are no longer allowed to look objectively, to analyze the events of your nation’s past, because you risk fines, prison, and public opprobrium. It is a fact, not fiction. You no longer have the right to express your point of view, no matter how documented it might be.
This is a personal point of view I will come back another time with true facts. In the meantime, you can check out what Mario Nawfall, Carlson Tucker or Romanian censored journalists like Anca Alexandrescu, Iosefina Pascal (for English language reports), Marius Tucă, Ion Cristoiu or free man BobbyD had to say on the most recent events taking place in Romania.
Freedom of Speech
When you closely follow what is happening in the Romanian media, both online and offline, and, first and foremost, check the sources, you realize that freedom of expression is today brutally manipulated and censored, even through deliberately misinterpreted or exaggerated interpretations of the democratic laws in place and even violations of the Romanian Constitution. Some of us would say that what is happening now with freedom of expression is even worse than during communism. No, contrary to some deceptive headlines, those who argue this are not nostalgic for the most oppressive regime in our history—or at least that is what we thought until a few months ago, when free elections were canceled.
Article 30 – Freedom of Expression
(1) Freedom to express thoughts, opinions, or beliefs and freedom of creation of any kind, through speech, writing, images, sounds, or other means of public communication, are inviolable.
(2) Censorship of any kind is prohibited.
(3) Freedom of the press also implies the freedom to establish publications.
(4) No publication may be suppressed.
(5) The law may impose on the mass media the obligation to disclose the source of their funding.
(6) Freedom of expression may not prejudice the dignity, honor, private life of a person, or the right to one’s own image.
(7) It is forbidden by law to defame the country and the nation, to incite war of aggression, national, racial, class or religious hatred, to incite discrimination, territorial separatism or public violence, as well as obscene manifestations contrary to public morals.
(8) Civil liability for information or creations made public shall lie with the publisher or producer, author, organizer of the artistic event, owner of the means of reproduction, radio or television station, under the conditions provided by law. Press offenses shall be established by law.”
It feels to me that we forget that we were born free and that includes freedom of speech. It’s a sacrosanct right we have and for which we must take responsibility for. And why is this so important?! Well, let’s start with the definition. The human right to express opinions and ideas without fear of censorship, retaliation or punishment is non-negotiable. Free speech is the cornerstone of any functioning democratic society. It is the key that unlocks debate on public issues, unveils unfair business deals and political arrangements, and holds authorities accountable for their actions and/ or inaction.
Freedom of speech is the human right to express one’s opinions and ideas without fear of censorship, retaliation, or punishment. The right to free speech is crucial element for a functioning democratic society, enabling and supporting debate on public issues, uncovering unfair business deals and political arrangements and so much more, while holding authorities accountable for their (lack of) actions or silence.
Freedom of speech is recognized internationally, including in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948) and Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Article 19 - Free Speech
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Article 11 - Freedom of expression and information
“1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.
2. The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected.”
The First Amendment
In the United States of America, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech. The U.S. Supreme Court often has struggled to determine what exactly constitutes protected speech. Briefly, freedom of speech is “a cornerstone of a free society”, protecting:
- Verbal and written communication (e.g. spoken words, writing, printing, and broadcasting)
- Symbolic speech, namely actions that convey a message, (e.g. wearing certain clothing, reading books, or protesting).
- Information and ideas defined as the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas, even if they are offensive or illogical.
The Freedom of Speech
The First Amendment, U.S. Constitution
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.”
Knowing Where You Came from and Who You Are Matters
I know how it is for some of you who are reading this, because I grew up in Romania’s communist system, too. I was just about 14 when in December 1989 “The Red Curtain” failed in my country. I didn’t experience the full force of Romanian communism like my grandparents and dad did, but I felt its effects.
I didn’t have the privilege of having my grandparents around when I was an grown-up, but as long as they lived, they made sure to share their memories and life lessons with all of us, their dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And they did so in a way that we could understand, even though we were so young! They’re the ones who taught us the first history lessons with so much love and responsibility, and made us feel proud to be of Romanian descent. They lit a spark in us, igniting a desire to read, to search for truth between the lines and in conversations with elders, in the uncensored photocopied books that circulated under the radar, in political jokes, and so on.
When you start out in life like this, you learn to be vigilant and cautious, to look beneath the surface and spot the signs that most Occidentals miss. That is how I was brought up … myself and many others. We’ve learned a lot from our predecessors, and one of the things we’ve come to really understand is that when it comes to things like freedom of speech and other inalienable birthright, public proclamations and declarations alone are not enough to guarantee the protection of your rights.
Free Speech Takeaway
Many of us here in Romania, born and baptized in the Christian faith, believe that these rights they were given to us from birth by the Creator, Source or God—call it as you like, and we have the duty to constantly protect and defend them.
As my elders taught to speak up for myself and never forget the past or who I am, so this piece is just one of the many to come. TO BE CONTINUED with clear examples of how the freedom of speech is now censored in Romania. For now I leave you with one of my favourite quotes on why freedom of speech matters so much.
then dumb and silent we may be led,
like sheep to the slaughter.”
George Washington
