The Danger of Speaking Freely
Freedom of speech is often taken for granted in America but people in Communist Romania (1947-1989) did not have this luxury. Romanian newspapers, television, and radio only published communist propaganda out of fear of Ceaușescu and the oppressive police force, the Securitate.
("A Broadcast from the First RFE Sudio in Munich, Where RFE Began Broadcasting in May 1951." May 1951. Photograph. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. pressroom.rferl.org/a/rferl-history-in-images/29128797.html.)
"When he was young, [my dad,] in high school, was in the communist prison because he was against the communist regime. Along with a few friends in high school, they posted manifests against the communist regime, they got caught and were in communist prison for four years and a half. Since then, they were constantly watched and had to constantly go to the security office to report whatever they were doing."
—Madalina Dudeanu, Personal interview conducted as a part of NHD research (Interview, Madalina Dudeanu, 31 Jan. 2021)
Communicating was difficult because the Securitate had informants everywhere. People who spoke out were monitored, jailed, threatened, or in extreme cases, killed.
Based outside of Romania, in Munich, Germany since 1951, RFE/RL broadcasted to Romania without the constant fear of the Securitate. Unlike most other news sources, they could communicate uncensored news to the Romanian people.
(Johnson, A. Ross. "A Broadcaster Prepares a Music Program." 1951-1989. Photograph. RFE/RL.)
RFE/RL spoke to and for the Romanian people when Romanians could not speak out (specifically from 1951-1989). For many Romanians, this was the only source of uncensored information. Listening, discussing, or even mentioning RFE/RL was illegal and was punished severely. Romanians were only allowed to watch and listen to the government-controlled Romanian television and radio.
Alternately to what RFE/RL meant to the Romanian people, RFE/RL was viewed by Ceaușescu as a threat to his regime. This led Ceaușescu to target RFE/RL in violent attacks to stop them from communicating with the Romanian people.