MUD AS A NEW NORMAL - Filenews 19/4 by Kostis Konstantinou
The most shocking thing about the "Santis" case is not the number of atrocities that were said, nor even the ease with which they were told. What is really shocking, now that the wake is finally receding, is the simplicity with which these miserables have been adopted by a part of society. Unfortunately, and by a significant portion of journalists and the media. The ease with which this public lynching of people was considered - again - not only normal, but also almost imperative. An "obligation" of the citizen in the name of an abominable "morality".
The "Santis" case is being investigated. I will not go into its essence. It would be a version of exactly what I just recalled. But what, too much so far, turns out to be fake and admittedly malicious, we cannot ignore. Mainly for one reason: the "Santis" case is not the first. And, if the rest of society – the large part that does not participate in the public debate – does not react, it will not be the last either.
As for why he doesn't participate: who thinks anymore to stand in public and speak, knowing that the next minute he will be lynched by the mob that presents itself as "public opinion"?
There is nothing we can do about social media. For the media, however, the responsibilities are heavy. Tolerance – and often collaboration – with this sewer behind pseudonyms, and with every mythomaniac to whom we have given and still give a voice, is the raw material of the evil we live in today.
When the press heroizes masked men and faces who move skilfully between verisimilitude, distortion and inflating nuggets of truth in order to set up games, then the problem becomes structural. And when some people do it openly and publicly, and are glorified as saviours, or when the media rushes to give substance to claims without even checking the basics, then no one has the right to wonder where we have come.
When someone distorts the truth and invents fairy tales to cover up things for which they should just apologize, and we reproduce this lewdness, what exactly are we waiting for?
When, for example, a judge is accused of putting one and a half billion in a trust he set up in the name of "Santi" in France, while in France the creation of trusts is not even allowed – and it was never allowed – what kind of research is this and what kind of journalism is this, when it does not even go as far as googling?
Yes, there is popular anger. Those who think that we do not share it, should explain to us why. But there is also a need to save the true dimensions of the events. To save something from the mob, from the Nero, and from those who incite it as supposedly punishers.
Really, when the Supreme Constitutional Court, with a completely substantiated decision and with a vote of eight to none, dismissed the former auditor general, and at the same time MPs were throwing stones at the Supreme Court, leaving shadows of corruption without any evidence, why shouldn't anyone present tomorrow as a rapist, as a pedophile, as a thief, as a traitor, as an agent, as...? Why shouldn't it happen, when no one will have consequences? On the contrary, will he be glorified as a hero for what he said, without even checking the evidence or confirming its authenticity?
We have all allowed this jungle to flourish. Politicians, journalists, citizens. And if now, when it is about to suffocate us, we do not react, if we do not finally put a stop to this vulgarity that grabs anyone who is thrown at it and devours it, then let's not pretend that it surprises us. Because only then will this vulgarity, together with the fascism it generates, really deserve us.
