Silencing the jesters

Wait until fate knocks on your door and demands you choose between conscience and hardship — because if you work in this industry that day is coming. ANDOR writer Dan Gilroy

Courts of old held a place for the jester. Often, the jester’s job was to speak truth in comedy and rhyme, going into the dark waters of calling a spade a spade that few others in court had the courage or place to do. 

History demonstrates again and again that when we silence the jester, the king has no one to call out their Little Atrocities that become big atrocities. No one to name the shadow and blind spots of a king turning to tyrant. 

Great TV shows tell stories of our current day, masked in sci-fi or other worlds. Andor is one of those. The rebels against Empire. 

Andor’s writer, Dan Gilroy, is pointing to another known cycle of history. We get the world we step over. We get the world of bad deeds and cruelty because we chose our safety and security over our conscience and morality.

When Empire fires the jesters, and people remain silent for fear of retribution, the game being played has already been won. 

Silencing the truth tellers, the critics, the activists – is an advanced step in authoritarianism.

Our ability to speak out is being lost. Now is the time to yell at the top of our lungs against all forms of oppression. 

Photo Taken September 22nd 2025, Article published September 22nd, 2025