Sue Davies explains her blog

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST CENSORSHIP IN WALES

I've started this blog as a small contribution to the struggle against the censorship that has disfigured my beloved Wales for many years.

I used to teach history at a school in Wales. I left long ago because the history I was expected to teach was mostly propaganda aimed at casting the English monarchy in the best light possible - and that meant telling packs of lies about Welsh history.

What brought matters to a head was a refusal to allow me to discuss with students research suggesting that Henry VIII, far from being someone to be admired and exhaulted, had executed tens of thousands of people for the heinious crime of dissent. Many of his victims were in Wales, where the Tudors (supposedly Welsh) were being criticised for not doing enough to end England's brutal grip on the Welsh.

My studies of Welsh history turned me into a staunch Welsh nationalist and republican. In fact I find it difficult to believe how anyone in Wales can have self-respect if they know Welsh history and remain a monarchist. The English monarchy's role in Wales is blood-drenched and stained with many atrocities, but you would hardly guess that from the history that has been taught many in Welsh schools.

I've always had a keen interest in current affairs and about seven years ago I started writing to the Welsh media - broadcast as well as newspapers - on all soirts of topics on a regular basis.

Sometimes my letters were published but often they were not. The omissions fell into a clear pattern - if the letter was non-controversial it would invariably be published (I'm not a bad letter-writer). But it was different with letters supporting Welsh nationalism or republicism or criticising the English monarchy. A few were printed, but most were not. Sometimes they would be edited beyoned belief. There were times when I barely recognised what I had written.

Tawdry baubles

About three years ago I persuaded a few fellow republicans to indulge in an unpleasnt excercise; namely to write some pro-monarchy letters to the newspapers. Every single one was printed verbatim.

It seems clear to me that the Welsh media - almost all of it owned, controlled and, largely, staffed from outside Wales - is determined not to allow any real debate about nationalism or republicism to get going.

It seems to me that many editors and media owners live in hope of some tawdry bauble from the much-discredited 'honours' system and are quite willing to do what is nessesary to 'earn' it. That, after all, is the real reason why the honours system is in place - to defend the monarchy from too much criticism.

So, why am I not in Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party? Well, I was for a short while but I quickly saw that the party wasn't much interested in Welsh independence (this was long before they actually admitted it publically) and had almost as many royalists as the Tory Party (one of the strong opponents of the monarchy I ever came across was a Tory Party activist in North Cardiff!).

I live in Whitchurch, Cardiff and hold a senior position in a pan-European venture that occasionally has me on the road to other countries.

I don't mind people challenging my views. I'm new to blogging so I'm not sure how easily it is for people to react. We'll see how it goes.

SUE DAVIES