Truth is a personal, fungiable, culture driven, and fluid thing. I only know of one absolute truth. It is that we will each be dead sooner rather than later, and then we will be dead a very long time. Truth really is that simple. Except for those who live in places where the Government is invasive enough to try and be the arbiter of truth. Unfortunately, the UK is becoming more and more one of those places. I was shocked how far this has come during my last visit there. Sad...
Oh dear. No, the truth isn't personal. Is this distortion starting all over again? Are we back to the concept of "alternative facts"?
Press freedom is currently regressing worldwide. The most prominent example is the USA. Compared to the USA, pretty much every European country is doing (very) well in terms of freedom of press.
According to the Reporters Without Borders index, the UK has improved from 23rd place (2024) to 20th place (2025). The USA – unsurprisingly – has slipped further, from 55th place in 2024 to 57th place in 2025. The coming years will surely accelerate this downward trend. For obvious reasons.
I've already written about it elsewhere. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. But not to their own truth.
P.S. By the way, the EU (and its predecessor institutions) are – despite some trials and tribulations – a recipe for success. Never before has Europe experienced such a long period of peace. Never before have so many people lived in such prosperity. Just look at the countries that joined the EU in the early 2000s. And: Ukrainians are dying every day because they (rightly) refuse to give up their dream of EU membership.
Facts and truth are not interchangeable terms. People's beliefs in truth are very cultural, national, religious, morality, and personaly based. They are very closely related to opinions. Facts are are based on physical laws and and actual events that should be viewed in a vacuum devoid of the above. That we are alive and having this conversation is a fact. The meaning of this conversation is muddled by personal truths.
Actually truth for many is that Ukrain is not at war because of their desire to join the EU. They are at war because of their desire to join NATO. Very different things. The fact is that Ukrain and Russia are at war and there is great damage and death because of this.
I am a citizen of both the U.S. and the EU. I fully recognize the benefits and problems in both. I live them every day.
Truth is a personal, fungiable, culture driven, and fluid thing. I only know of one absolute truth. It is that we will each be dead sooner rather than later, and then we will be dead a very long time. Truth really is that simple. Except for those who live in places where the Government is invasive enough to try and be the arbiter of truth. Unfortunately, the UK is becoming more and more one of those places. I was shocked how far this has come during my last visit there. Sad...
Oh dear. No, the truth isn't personal. Is this distortion starting all over again? Are we back to the concept of "alternative facts"?
Press freedom is currently regressing worldwide. The most prominent example is the USA. Compared to the USA, pretty much every European country is doing (very) well in terms of freedom of press.
According to the Reporters Without Borders index, the UK has improved from 23rd place (2024) to 20th place (2025). The USA – unsurprisingly – has slipped further, from 55th place in 2024 to 57th place in 2025. The coming years will surely accelerate this downward trend. For obvious reasons.
I've already written about it elsewhere. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. But not to their own truth.
P.S. By the way, the EU (and its predecessor institutions) are – despite some trials and tribulations – a recipe for success. Never before has Europe experienced such a long period of peace. Never before have so many people lived in such prosperity. Just look at the countries that joined the EU in the early 2000s. And: Ukrainians are dying every day because they (rightly) refuse to give up their dream of EU membership.
Facts and truth are not interchangeable terms. People's beliefs in truth are very cultural, national, religious, marality, and personaly based. They are very closely related to opinions. Facts are are based on physical laws and and actual events that should be viewed in a vacuum devoid of the above. That we are alive and having this conversation is a fact. The meaning of this conversation is muddled by personal truths.
Actually truth for many is that Ukrain is not at war because of their desire to join the EU. They are at war because of their desire to join NATO. Very different things. The fact is that Ukrain and Russia are at war and there is great damage and death because of this.
I am a citizen of both the U.S. and the EU. I fully recognize the benefits and problems in both. I live them every day.
Truth is a personal, fungiable, culture driven, and fluid thing. I only know of one absolute truth. It is that we will each be dead sooner rather than later, and then we will be dead a very long time. Truth really is that simple. Except for those who live in places where the Government is invasive enough to try and be the arbiter of truth. Unfortunately, the UK is becoming more and more one of those places. I was shocked how far this has come during my last visit there. Sad...
Oh dear. No, the truth isn't personal. Is this distortion starting all over again? Are we back to the concept of "alternative facts"?
Press freedom is currently regressing worldwide. The most prominent example is the USA. Compared to the USA, pretty much every European country is doing (very) well in terms of freedom of press.
According to the Reporters Without Borders index, the UK has improved from 23rd place (2024) to 20th place (2025). The USA – unsurprisingly – has slipped further, from 55th place in 2024 to 57th place in 2025. The coming years will surely accelerate this downward trend. For obvious reasons.
I've already written about it elsewhere. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. But not to their own truth.
P.S. By the way, the EU (and its predecessor institutions) are – despite some trials and tribulations – a recipe for success. Never before has Europe experienced such a long period of peace. Never before have so many people lived in such prosperity. Just look at the countries that joined the EU in the early 2000s. And: Ukrainians are dying every day because they (rightly) refuse to give up their dream of EU membership.
Actually Ukrain is not at war because of their desire to join the EU. They are at war because of their desire to join NATO. Very different things.
I am a citizen of both the U.S. and the EU. I fully recognize the benefits and problems in both.
Jul 07, 2025 at 07:01 AM
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