"Whose [Democracy] Is It Anyway?"
Life has a funny way of proving you right or wrong, as the case may be. In other instances, of showing you up on your contradictions. This comes to mind with the recent scandal in Spain, where the government and the main opposition party both tried to put a spin on the reporting done by TVE, the State-run news and entertainment television channel. Fortunately, the public outcry and the professional fortitude of management prevented the foul deed.
What I find interesting is the fact that Spain has chastised both Castro and Chávez for what they see as improper control of the press and the rest of the mass media. So, while condemning the two regimes, they attempt to do something along those lines. Once again, this is a clear example of the hypocrisy of the supposedly-leading democracies, that lecture the so-called "Third World" on the respect for human rights and freedoms that they themselves violate. Furthermore, when things like this happen in one of their countries, the G-7 or G-20 group says nothing, in stark contrast with the Cuban or Venezuelan situations, in relation to which they are more than willing to condemn and ask for all sorts of sanctions.
Even "dissidents" who have made a career of criticizing every little thing in their home countries, like Yoany Sánchez, the anti-Castro blogger diva, are curiously silent on issues such as this one, as if they were afraid to criticize those democracies which they hold as examples of what their countries should be. Of course, you could always assume the position of a dear friend who believes that people like Sánchez have enough on their plate and can't handle other injustices in the world.
Maybe, but I find it too convenient of an explanation for a selective application of democratic principles...
What I find interesting is the fact that Spain has chastised both Castro and Chávez for what they see as improper control of the press and the rest of the mass media. So, while condemning the two regimes, they attempt to do something along those lines. Once again, this is a clear example of the hypocrisy of the supposedly-leading democracies, that lecture the so-called "Third World" on the respect for human rights and freedoms that they themselves violate. Furthermore, when things like this happen in one of their countries, the G-7 or G-20 group says nothing, in stark contrast with the Cuban or Venezuelan situations, in relation to which they are more than willing to condemn and ask for all sorts of sanctions.
Even "dissidents" who have made a career of criticizing every little thing in their home countries, like Yoany Sánchez, the anti-Castro blogger diva, are curiously silent on issues such as this one, as if they were afraid to criticize those democracies which they hold as examples of what their countries should be. Of course, you could always assume the position of a dear friend who believes that people like Sánchez have enough on their plate and can't handle other injustices in the world.
Maybe, but I find it too convenient of an explanation for a selective application of democratic principles...
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