Attacking press threatens democracy

Having just returned from viewing the terrific movie “The Post,” which deals with events from nearly 50 years ago surrounding the controversial publication of the Pentagon Papers but which has powerful parallels to events in today’s headlines, I had to write and express my gratitude for the continued existence of a free press in our country, and of The Dispatch specifically.

I was particularly struck by a quote in the movie from Supreme Court Justice Black in his majority opinion ruling in favor of the Washington Post and New York Times: “In the First Amendment, the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The government’s power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government.”

A bold and investigative press gives the American people the kind of news and depth of news that we need to make responsible decisions about our government and even our daily lives.

The cry of “fake news” so frequently trumpeted by President Donald Trump — the man who should theoretically embody all of the highest of American values — in an attempt to divert blame or squelch inconvenient facts therefore becomes an attack on our liberty and democracy.

With continued coverage from dedicated, truth-seeking journalists, the attitude of voters should shift from viewing this administration as not merely clownishly entertaining but dangerous, and I hope to see that change in evidence in this year’s elections, if not sooner.

Bradley Colegate Columbus