Is Democracy Threatened?

This summer I had the opportunity to go to Istanbul. While there I learned that Turkey has direct censorship and that it's a crime to speak against the government.  It's one of the reasons many speculate that Turkey will have difficulty being admitted into the EU.

I noticed the censorship subtley with conversations amongst the guides. One said while looking over her shoulder, "Some in the government want more mosques, when we need mores, jobs, education, roads, hospitals, etc." This sounds a little familiar, doesn't?  Yet, at the time when I heard that spoken I felt more empathy than as if seeing a mirror. I didn't think that minus the mosque and hospitals - that she could have been talking about our own country. 

I talked to another guide about writers and asked if there were any writer events.  She said, 'No, definitely not."  I inquired again. She said, "It'd be in Turkish."and,again she looked over her shoulder. I realized that maybe she meant, that if a group of writers got together it'd raise a red flag. 

Since I've returned I've watched for signs of censorship and what it feels like when it's threatened. The political campaign waged by McCain and team has been on my radar. I'm embarassed to admit that at one point I liked the guy, even though I didn't agree with him, - he seemed like kind of a rebel - boy was I wrong, but that's another story.

I've been hesitant at times to post my disgust about this election year. I've thought what more could I add. But I think deep down I've been scared.  It's all the more reason to speak now. I am very worried for freedom of speech, the economy (like I said in another post... most of my contemporaries are looking for jobs.)

Back to the democracy - I worry for  the younger generation of females that they might have less rights than I've experienced and generations before me.

One of the great horrrors that worries me the most - as an avid book reader - is not being able to check out 'certain books' at the library. I'm not sure which of my book choices would be on some list - but just the thought that someone who is in the number two spot and wants censorship, instead of an educated mind is too terrifying to fathom. It's so anti-democratic. I can't believe republicans aren't speaking out and disgusted. Since when is freedom of speech a democrat issue? This is way beyond politics. An open society is the cornerstone of our democracy, which has so long been admired, and which is threatened. 

This notion of supression of thoughts and education is a by product of their attempt at the dumbing down of America. It is perpetrated by a campaign that is devaluing intelectual discussions. Maybe they think if we're stupid we're easier to brainswash. And maybe we will be.

Politically it's getting harder and harder to hear an opposite view point and one that's not simply proganda.

I wonder if we could become a dictatorship. After writing this article it seems a whole lot less farfetched than I thought. I wonder if our country will reach a point of censoring people on a larger scale, than  just the protestors in Minnesota. There was a time today when I went to Gather and didn't come up - for second I got scared that maybe the site had been closed. Thankfully - it was just my browser - having a time out. Maybe it too got exhausted from worrying about the encroachment of our democracy. Nah, it's not a thinking, breathing person - who can react and be troubled by current events.