“The truth is not private property,” St Augustine
Journalists have always been targets of oppressive regimes, terrorist groups and political intrigue. A journalist is a bringer of truth, reality and sometimes sunshine to a world filled with bad news.
Tyrants. Rogue Vile Corporations, Criminal Cartels and their strong-armed militias take to the streets attempting to silence those who investigate their illegal actions and harmful methods. Sometimes these organizations threaten the journalist or their families. Perhaps they will offer money as a means to their silence. When a journalist investigates and reports on the massive corruption that lies within our governments globally, they place their lives in jeopardy. Journalist Miguel Angel Beltran was such a man, whose body was found in Durango not long ago. Tortured and murdered. By whom? It is said he was investigating the Mexican Cartels and their bribed Government Officials. A message was left with the body saying “for spreading lies about the people of Durango”.
Criminals, be they corrupt government officials, human trafficking, or drug-dealing cartels, often act as protectors of the very people they prey upon, in this case, the people of Durango. Their lies are obvious, their methods proven to be effective and permanent. Death to the Media, or at least to those unwilling to be paid off or intimidated. To be a journalist will require courage, open-mindedness and patience. Some day, a journalist may come face-to-face with corruption, either public or private. In Mexico, Russia, China, many nations of Africa, Asia and Central-Latin America, journalists are targets or useful idiots to the bad guys.
Will Miguel’s murders be found? Three years ago, 23,000+ people disappeared or were murdered in Mexico, and most of the criminals responsible have not been found. The Police claim to be investigating, but the leads and the victims’ whereabouts are hard to find. So they claim.
These attacks and murders can happen in Canada and the USA, folks. Criminals follow a procedure of threat, intimidation, victimization and even murder. In the American South, many journalists friendly to a progressive mindset were intimidated, beaten and often disappeared/murdered. The history of Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Florida and Missouri is filled with bad news for the bearers of truth.
Miguel knew the risks yet stayed the course, searching for the people’s truth as it was owed to them. He died violently. Such is the route “The Purveyor of Truth” must face in a world filled with greedy, ambitious and violent men. (Such criminals are usually men)
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
