Wednesday, December 08, 2010



Irony

At the moment the United States Government is attacking Wikileaks, attempting to steal its money and throw it off the web, while threatening its spokesperson with (yet-to-be-determined) charges, or even murder, because it dared to commit an act of journalism and publish leaked US diplomatic cables showing the US's hypocrisy and deceit on the world stage.

At the same time, it is proudly announcing that it will host World Press Freedom Day in 2011.

That’s funny enough, but it gets 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. We mark events such as World Press Freedom Day in the context of our enduring commitment to support and expand press freedom and the free flow of information in this digital age.
Except, of course, where that freedom might embarrass the US. When that happens, they're just as bad as China, Iran, or any other tinpot despotism in attempting to crush it.

Americans really don't understand irony, do they?