The Joke About Freedom of Speech

Secret laboratories stamp fools in Belarus.

A joke about freedom of speech was very popular in the Soviet Union. Two journalists - American and Soviet - meet. The American says: "You have no freedom of speech in the USSR. I can approach the White House and shout "Reagan is a fool!" The Soviet colleague answers: "We have no freedom of speech?! I can also approach the Red Square and shout "Reagan is a fool!"

Years passed, it was getting dark. And yesterday I heard this "Reagan is a fool", but a bit in a different way. The author is the chairman of the "House" commission on human rights, national relations and mass media Andrei Naumovich. And he took the floor in Strasbourg. It was the meeting of the PACE political committee devoted to other attack of the Belarusian authorities on freedom of speech, in particular, the blocking of Charter. Copying the Soviet journalist he says: "Dear colleagues, if you leave this oval hall after our today's meeting and turn on your computer, any information is available on all sites currently operating in the Republic of Belarus. Charter, Euroradio, Radio Svaboda, TUT.by, Partisan, BelaBAN - you can read whatever you like! And I do not understand the comments we sometimes receive today."

That is, deputies wonder why the Charter is blocked in Belarus. And he is surprised that something is blocked in Belarus. You can read it in Strasbourg, in Brussels or in Vienna. In general, he approached the Red Square and shouted "Reagan is a fool".

After reading the quote, I emotionally decided to find out who was so handsome and smart. I'd like to see this cute guy running in the Red Square. He should have manifested himself in some way, otherwise, no one could send him to the Red Square. You know, I found noting to remember and to get hooked on. Because all statements of the head of the commission on human rights and mass media are a meaningless set of sounds.

He is talking about the construction of the memorial in Kurapaty: "Will we build a national memorial? The decision should be taken given the position of Belarusian citizens, this is the most important thing. We should listen to the major opinion. I would not dare to be decisive, because this issue is subject to discussion." He answeres the question of BelaPAN correspondent on the ability to hold meetings of the "House" in Belarusian: "It requires a gentle approach. I was the teacher of the Belarusian language, I spoke at meetings. I like the Belarusian language, but the transfer to it should be gradual. Today we have to define priorities. This issue needs no haste."

One more thing: "We are not engaged in agitation, but we inform the Belarusian society about such problems. The practice shows that a part of the population is far from the issue... There is a planned work on information sharing about this topic". Can you guess what he is talking about? You'll never be able to. He means the death penalty. There is some problem, you know.

No word expresses neither endorsement, nor condemnation. Neither thought, nor position. He is as smooth as a pebble at the sea shore. It is perfectly smooth. Classics of the genre: as clean as a whistle. It lacks a thought, a position, and a living word. They were released in secret laboratories of the USSR, and then spread. And these stamped fools in every executive committee, in every housing and utility service, to say nothing of higher ranks in power, voiced the same: "We have not been into your problem yet. The issue requires a comprehensive study".

Years later secret plants resumed work on our land and they stamp these smooth pebbles again, which tell about new plans on population information on this issue. Their main objective is to weave a stamp web no keep everyone from any sense and any activity. They get huge sums of money, benefits for it and enjoy a bright future. And for successful chewing they are even sent to Strasbourg. and it only needs to speak this mess for an hour and then have a rest. And to read the Charter while bosses do not see it.

Iryna Khalip, specially for Charter97.org