Dear Sir... Readers' Views (11/01/17)

Your letters, your views...

Independent media must face down Trump’s hate

January 20 is just around the corner and with it the reality of Mr Trump’s coronation and the installation of his reactionary, xenophobic, anti-science and elitist cabinet. As we approach this ominous day, social media circles and letters pages are full of debate regarding the sanctity of the freedom of speech and giving hate a platform. In past times, prior to the advent of ubiquitous social media and ‘fake news’, providing the purveyors of hate a platform was a relatively low risk choice as memories of the second world war and the extremes of nationalism were still fresh. The danger now is that a new norm is emerging in which populist politicians are latching on to the disenchantment of populations who, ground down by years of inequality and austerity, are looking for answers. Right-wing politicians globally are exploiting this frustration to push their own long-standing hate-filled agendas and are doing so with increased confidence on the coattails of Mr Trump. However hate is an emotion that merely provides a quick but temporary fix for despair.