“We never make mistakes.”
A credo for totalitarianism, echoing in my brain like a clanking chain after seeing the latest MAGA red hat slogan, “Trump was right about everything,” sported by President Donald Trump’s adviser, Elon Musk.
Hard to believe people pay $19.99 to brand that on their foreheads. Points for candor, because belief in the infallibility of Trump is the guiding principle of this American era. As if the flesh of modern democratic society suddenly melted away to reveal the grinning skull of 18th century monarchism that was always underneath.
“We never make mistakes.”
The stock market disagrees. The American people increasingly disagree. To believe the past three months have been anything but a tearing down of American prosperity, freedom, influence, and prestige, you have to suspend all verifiable reality. Accept empty ports. Accept legal residents yanked off the street without due process and shipped to foreign prisons.
Who will stop this? Not Congress, clapping like seals. Not the courts, already being ignored and ridiculed by Trump, undercutting anyone who points out that the law and whatever he says today are not the same thing, yet.
“We cannot allow a handful of communist, radical-left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws,” Trump said. And by “our laws” he means, “my will.”
The only avenue open to resist what is happening is to tell the truth, as clearly and frequently and forcefully as possible.
And who is doing that?
The media, or what is left of it. Which is why World Press Day — Saturday, May 3 — is extra important. Because if unfettered and fair reporting is valuable during normal times, it is is absolutely essential now, if there is to be any hope to thwart gathering authoritarianism.
“We never make mistakes.”
Everyone makes mistakes. Some acknowledge it. Tyrants can’t. And a few seek to cast light on errors. Since 1948, the Chicago Sun-Times has been in the business of finding mistakes, of honestly assessing and analyzing the world, from the smallest community problem to the largest global crisis. Such as the one we’re in right now.
Like America, we’ve come on lean times. The Sun-Times has suffered losses — 20% of our staff in March as a cost-cutting move, including the entire editorial board. Our business model — sell ads and subscriptions — undercut by the digital revolution. Now we depend on donations, as part of the Chicago Public Media 501(c)3 nonprofit.
It can be a hard sell. The online world shrieks with voices demanding your attention and money.
So let me lay it out in simple terms: Without newspapers such as the Sun-Times, you won’t know what’s going on anymore. You’ll be flying blind into a storm.
Nationally. And locally. Start with Fran Spielman, the tireless dean of City Hall reporting, untying the knot of City Hall. With Mitchell Armentrout and Tina Sfondeles covering Illinois politics. And WBEZ’S Sarah Karp following the constant developments in education.
Too many to list. On Wednesday, our architecture critic, Lee Bey offered exactly the sort of laser-focused community reporting the Sun-Times excels at: a look at the 120-year-old Burnham pavilion in Jackson Park that “ought to be a perfect little spot to visit,” but isn’t, because the city allowed it to fall into decay.
What do you support when you support the Sun-Times? You support immigrants — our Spanish-language publication, La Voz, published a guide, in English and Spanish, offering resources for immigrants and asylum-seekers.
You support free speech and the idea of a nation of laws, where what colleges teach isn’t dictated by the government.
You support everything that is good about life in Chicago and in the United States. Which includes fun — the best sports section in the city, reviews of plays and concerts, operas and festivals.
“We never make mistakes.”
I thought the line was Stalin’s. But it’s from an Alexander Solzhenitsyn novella, “An Incident at Krechetovka Station.” A wayward soldier is misidentified as a spy and sent toward his probable death. An official wonders if perhaps a mistake was made. But the government never make mistakes.
People all over the globe suffer under the yoke of that diktat. Now many would impose government by unquestionable fiat here in the United States. Bad enough it rules Russia and China. To see it take root in America is a terrible thing. The press is trying to stop it. Will you help us?
We rely on our community to help keep our paywall down and the news free and accessible. Our goal is to hear from 2,500 new donors at Chicago Public Media — WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times. Please step up and donate now, while you still can.