Given the dishonest, troubling and bizarre move by this administration to define journalism by who does or does not make them uncomfortable, and to actively work to shut down those outfits they don’t like, I heartily recommend that you pick up a copy of
Terry Pratchett’s novel The Truth.
The Truth is yet another excellent entry into Pratchett’s marvelously wrought, satirical Discworld; we meet William de Worde, a fellow who manages to reluctantly invent journalism when he encounters some dwarfs with a printing press. It’s a hoot, but it also strikes many important notes about the craft and duty of journalism, how corruption can be built into the system, but also risen above. As you read it you will find yourself putting the book down to ponder our times and our media.
A few excerpts:
“Put a title like ‘Letters’ on the top and put them in,” said William. “Except the one about the dwarfs. That sounds like Mr. Windling. It sounds like my father, too, except that at least he can spell ‘undesirable’ and wouldn’t use crayon.”
“Why not that letter?”
“Because it’s offensive.”
“Some people think it’s true, though,” said Sacharissa. “There’s been a lot of trouble.”
“Yes, but we shouldn’t print it.”
William called Goodmountain [the dwarf printer -admin] over and showed him the letter. The dwarf read it.
“Put it in,” he suggested. “It’ll fill a few inches.”“But people will object,” said William.
“Good. Put their letters in, too.”
[William's conversation with the Commander of the Watch]
“You should talk to me so that I can write it down, sir. All neat and correct. The actual words you say, right down there on the paper. And you know who Ii am, and if I get them wrong, you know where to find me.”
“So, You’re telling me that if I do what you want, you’ll do what you want?”
“I’m saying, sir, that a lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on.”
“Ha! Did you just make that up?”
“No, sir. But you know it’s true.”
Vimes sucked on his cigar. “And you’ll let me see what you’ve written?”
“Of course. I’ll make sure you get one of the first papers off the press, sir.”
“I meant before it gets published, and you know it.”
“To tell you the truth, no. I don’t think I should do that, sir.”
“I am the commander of the Watch, lad.”
“Yes, sir. And I’m not. I think that’s my point, really…”
[More]
At last, like some oracle that speaks once a year, Vimes said, “I don’t trust you, Mr. de Word. And I’ve just realized why. It’s not just that you’re going to cause trouble. Dealing with trouble is my job, it’s what I’m paid for, that’s why they give me an armor allowance. But who are you reposnible to? I have to answer for what I do, although right now I’m damned if I know who to. But you? It seems to me you can do what the hell you like.”
“I suppose I’m answerable to the truth, sir.”
“Oh, really? How, exactly?”
“Sorry?”
“If you tell lies, does the Truth come and smack you in the face? I’m impressed. Ordinary everyday people like me are responsible to other people. Even Vetinari always had -has -one eye on the Guilds. But you. . .you are answerable to the Truth. Amazing. That’s its address? Does it read the paper?”
As I said, you’ll find this (as with all the Discworld books) strangely relevant to the times, and a good way to freshen the perspective. I’m highly recommending it!
FTC Disclaimer: Ordering The Truth (which I bought on my own) or anything else, either new or used through my Amazon link will result in a very modest kickback to this site. But even if it did not, I would still recommend the book to you.
Other Pratchett books we’ve talked about here:
Wise Words and Spinach
A Great Definition of Sin
Obama Meets Joe the Plumber in Fiction
For the Secessionists
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Anchoress, Kathie. Kathie said: RT @TheAnchoress The Truth: http://bit.ly/32paco [...]
Ah, Mr. Pratchett–one of my faves!
Please remember him in your prayers as well. He was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers a few years back. However, because he is “too young,” according to Britain’s NHS, he is ineligible to receive the appropriate drugs to fight this disease. Fortunately, he’s wealthy enough that he can afford to buy them.
Mr. Pratchett recognizes this and is speaking out on behalf of others who suffer from the early-onset of this disease who cannot afford to buy their own drugs.
Terry Pratchett is a brilliant writer, even now, despit his Alzheimer’s.
One of my favorite lines from “The Truth” is (approximately, from memory):
“Pulling together is for dictators and despots. Free people pull in all different directions.”
[Yes! I actually meant to include that, but was worried I was overlong! -admin]
Oh, how easily we give in to tyranny.
The proper response is — “FTC, bite me”
Off topic (in this posting anyway), but if we might return to the “torture” debate for a moment (although I guess that is on-topic and relevant to the matter of a dishonest media) –
I know that we had some musicians a couple of days ago wanting to know if their music was used to “torture” Gitmo detainees.
Now it has been reported that, while in prison, Saddam Hussein was repeatedly shown the movie South Park: Bigger, Longer And Uncut (in which Saddam plays a vital role). I suppose they will claim that constituted torture as well.
Lord Vetinari is a sort of libertarian despot. Another excellent passage from The Truth:
‘I’m sure we can pull together, sir.’
Lord Vetinari raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh, I do hope not, I really do hope not. Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions.’ He smiled. ‘It’s the only way to make progress.
Would that Obama and his friends could embrace such sentiments.
First things first. Fox News is and has been the house organ of the Republican party. That in and of itself is not a problem. And if Obama’s advisors would simply relax and accept that, they would stop making such fools of themselves over it by trying to deny Fox access. Things like that simply don’t work.
I see no reason, however, for them not to speak their minds about the slant of Fox News any more than you should stop speaking your mind about the slant of MSNBC or the New York Times. We have had far too little honesty about this sort of thing all the way around, with everybody pretending that their own coverage is “fair and balanced” and it’s only the other guys’ who are slanted.
This is a matter about which we all need to grow up and stop pretending that any organ of the press is operating with the impartiality and the wisdom of Solomon, or that they even can. And if, indeed, “Free men pull in all kinds of directions. It’s the only way to make progress.” then we also all need to grow up about the fact that someone pulling in the opposite direction will take a punch at you if you take a punch at him.
It is also time that we stop beating our breasts about “bipartisanship”. The philosophical differences that split this country are simply not resolvable into any kind of “unity” or common purpose.
The best we can expect is to agree to obey the law, and from that point forward all forms of frankness will be tolerated without the “naughty, naughty” waving of fingers in the air over somebody else’s blunt speech whose content we don’t approve of.
The humbug of that in particular gets to be a little wearing.
I don’t particularly care much for Fox News, its commentators are vile. its non-political news sense is completely cockeyed, and its production values are a joke.
And my point is? There is no point. There doesn’t have to be a point. There is no particular reason why I should like it and there is no particular reason why it should change to suit me.
Coming to terms with that is what I mean by “growing up”. Yes, the President needs to grow up. But so does everybody else.
Ok, I ordered, and to quote Amazon: “Only 3 left in stock–order soon (more on the way).”
The quotes you posted got me. I have been totally dismayed this past few months over what is going on in this Administration. Thank heavens we have the internet, and the goings-on are not completely hidden.
First things first. Fox News is and has been the house organ of the Republican party.
Bull pucky.
They’ve just been less leftward-ho than the rest of the outlets.
Even if they were Mother Jones, it’d still be wrong to kick them out of a press pool they help pay for.
First things first. Fox News is and has been the house organ of the Republican party.
If it was, conservatives wouldn’t be watching.
On about conservatives being semi-detatched from the official GOP- Beck & Palin in NY-23 endorse a third-party candidate.
Do they have as much influence as they believe themselves to wield? Time will tell
The Confessions Of Bill Clinton
So you’ve Disc-overed Sir Terry! Excellent. I wonder what you make of his portrayals of religion, Anchoress? I seem to remember an interview where he claimed Chesterton as a hero of his, yet he doesn’t embrace religion for himself; I don’t know if he’s actually an atheist or merely agnostic. But as a Christian, I find no offense, rather a good deal of wisdom and humor, in his depiction of religions and their adherents. While giving no quarter to serious evil, Pratchett always seems to have a basis of good-natured tolerance – even fondness – for ordinary people and their foibles, which I find very Chestertonian.
Interesting statements from TP on religion here: http://tinyurl.com/6msa55
Second things second. There is a large segment of the “legitimate” press for whom the primary difference between what they do and what Bobby Gibbs does is that Bobby’s paychecks are issued by the U.S. Treasury.
Hmmm … I always thought Pratchett was satirizing how the press was used and abused by the Blair and Bush administrations. After all, both were in office when this book was written and their manipulation of the media was not exactly a secret; as for Obama, he wasn’t even a gleam in the electorate’s eye.
[hmmmm...I don't believe I said the book was written about Obama, and I think I said Pratchett takes a very thorough and comprehensive look at the press, from all sides. I simply said it's worth reading, when we have a president trying to control the press...which, I don't know why Pratchett would specifically write about Bush and Blair at all, since they did not demonize the press...admin]
“actively work to shut down those outfits they don’t like…”
Shut down?
So, I guess lying isn’t a sin these days?
I remember reading Small Gods and finding great wisdom in it, even though I am Christian.
I started reading Pratchett after a boyfriend recommended “Good Omens” (a collaboration with Neil Gaiman). It owed so much to my favourite Chesterton book (The Man Who Was Thursday) but was so funny that I had to look into him.
My favorite Pratchett character is Granny Weatherwax, with her mix of common sense and “headology”. I found “Lords and Ladies” (a send-up of A Midsummer Night’s Dream) to be particularly good.
As for quotes, I always like the irony. For example, from Carpe Jugulum:
OATS (trying to protect Granny Weatherwax): “You wouldn’t let a poor old lady go off to confront monsters on a wild night like this, would you?”
ONLOOKER: “So why should we care what happens to monsters?”
[...] is a passage in Terry Pratchett’s The Truth that touches all of this in a way that is both amusing and enlightening. In chronicling the genesis [...]