As I grew up in the land of the free, I began to see that freedom did not mean a full range of choices but was narrowly defined as what was generally acceptable within a dominant framework. There were prudent ways of defining democracy and freedom, and there were imprudent ways. Democracy turned out to be what was exercised through indirect and very proper channels. A free press turned out to be free to those who could own one. The dominant press, radio, and television were called the mass media as an insiders’ joke, but I never saw my neighbor or teacher on my TV set. The masses had the … Continue reading Nancy Snow