In a new report published by the press organisation, [Reporters Without Borders], The Netherlands has managed to achieve equal first ranking on the list of countries with the greatest press freedom. It shares the top spot with fellow Europeans, Finland, Ireland and Iceland.
This is especially encouraging, given the current political climate sweeping the globe, which threatens personal freedom and privacy on many levels, not least of which the ability of the press to go about their business unmolested.
A free press is something that ought to be able to be taken for granted, especially in countries that make a very vocal point of proclaiming freedom as their very raison d’être. How does the freer-than-thou US fare in this report? It comes in a depressing, yet not altogether surprising equal 53rd, alongside Croatia, Tonga and Botswana. Even Chile and Israel score better. Dude!
The US’s great ally, the UK, another chest-beating, rabble-rousing champion of liberty, manages a slightly better 27th place. By Jove, surely not?
My conclusion: just as countries with the word ‘Democratic’ in their official name seldom actually are, so, too, should nations that harp on incessantly about freedom be mistrusted. Those countries that actually do offer their citizens a semblance of liberty generally seem to get on with it in silence. Perhaps that’s because only illusions need reinforcement.
Forgive me if I sound a little smug. I’m not; I assure you. There is much for me to be concerned about, but, for one brief moment, there is also something to actually smile about.