Apropos of everything, and in possibly the most ironic move EVER, the State Department announced today that the U.S. will host “World Press Freedom Day” next year.
The United States is pleased to announce that it will host UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day event in 2011, from May 1 – May 3 in Washington, D.C. UNESCO is the only UN agency with the mandate to promote freedom of expression and its corollary, freedom of the press.
Wait, it gets better. MUCH better.
The theme for next year’s commemoration will be 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. The United States places technology and innovation at the forefront of its diplomatic and development efforts. New media has empowered citizens around the world to report on their circumstances, express opinions on world events, and exchange information in environments sometimes hostile to such exercises of individuals’ right to freedom of expression. At the same time, we are concerned about the determination of some governments to censor and silence individuals, and to restrict the free flow of information.
BWAHA HAH AH AHAH AHA HA!
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Is there a word for the irony of a person or institution who should know better failing to recognize the irony of their actions or situation?
Something like: Irony ^2
Don’t you know it’s only called censorship, torture, etc. if it’s a country other than the U.S. doing it? Cuz we’re #1, motherfucking EXCEPTIONAL yo.
Funny, but remember: we’re hosting UNESCO’s event, not holding it ourselves.
@3 – Yes, but read the statement. The “we” in that last sentence is the U.S. It might not be our event, but this statement is in clear support of its goals and completely contrary to the stance we’re taking on WikiLeaks.
God, I love “Scanners”
What freedom?
Face it, the fate of Biko is what awaits Julian Assange.
We have no freedoms – other than for Corporations who are People.
And we who are their serfs.
Our government is blackwhite.
2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5…
@6, Jesus, you are aggressively, offensively stupid. Assange is not Biko. Are you working for the CIA to discredit Wikileaks supporters? You’re doing a heckuva job.
Ah, Fnarf, I can see why you’ve never held a security clearance.
Does one hand not know what the other is doing? Are we just trying to make ourselves feel better? Is this 1984-style-Orwellian totalitarian despair or an absurd keystone cops parody of the same? And (not knowing this is probably my fault, but) what has Obama said about the Wikileaks situation?
Right Hand: “Hey left hand, what are you doing?”
Left Hand: “Um, nothing… what are you doing?”
Right Hand: “Er, I’m also doing nothing… forget I asked.”
Go to their Facebook page at the bottom of the link, then go to the photos section to see the one “Fan Photo” that has been added.
@4 Anthony, okay, you exploded my head, then. Hope you’re happy now.
Well of course we want to host an event which will bring together progressive journalists from around the world into the same room. How else do you expect us to X-Ray and chip them all?