Slashdot Mirror
US Lawmakers to Keep Google Out of China?
caese writes "USATODAY is reporting that lawmakers in the US are proposing legislation that would keep Google and others out of China. From the article: 'Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is drafting a bill that would force Internet companies including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to keep vital computer servers out of China and other nations the State Department deems repressive to human rights.'"
Oh the irony...re: secret prisons, guantanamo, etc. Go USA!!!
comparing APPLES to ORANGES
"We don't intend retaliation over the drawings of the prophet. We just want to show that freedom is restricted in the West," said Davood Kazemi . . . executive manager of the contest.
The Iranian Holocaust cartoon contest may be a great exercise to demonstrate how restricted so-called free speech is in the West, but cartoons about the Holocaust are not a helpful comparison to the ones aimed at insulting the prophet Muhammad.
The latter insult a man revered by over a billion people, the vast majority of whom live in peace, minding their own business, while the former questions facts and figures of a historical event continuously brandished politically to exact reparations for its victims.
The former can be triggered either by curiosity, conflicting facts, or a desire to refute accusations; the latter cannot be explained by anything other than contempt and animosity for an entire population who revere the prophet.
Questioning the Holocaust is like questioning how many people were killed in the American civil war, or whether or not slavery truly existed in America (as they describe in textbooks), or who scalped who first, American Indians or Spanish settlers.
True, people are emotionally invested in one particular version of events over another. And, indeed only one version of events can actually be true (only God knows what it is). But, persons who believe different versions need not necessarily hate one another (although they might depending on how much is riding on one version being true).
In contrast, you CANNOT launch a full frontal attack on the founder of a religion without hurling hatred and contempt at his followers. It cannot be explained as an innocuous exercise in free speech or a fair exercise in debating or challenging historical facts.
It's like comparing apples to oranges.
Caught up brutally beating Iraqi teens- Watch the Video
2/13/2006 3:10:00 PM GMT
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PRISONER 1 is hauled in wearing a dark blue T-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers
The News of the World unveiled yesterday a video exposing rogue squad of British soldiers savagely beating a group of young Iraqi civilians- with 42 brutal blows.
The video is expected to revive the world's anger sparked in April 2004 by the horrific abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib jail near the Iraqi capital.
The shocking video obtained by the British newspaper, shows British soldiers kicking, punching and striking young Iraqi civilians with batons.
In the tape, described as a "secret home video" and apparently filmed for fun by a corporal, an unidentified cameraman is heard laughing and urging his colleagues on, the BBC said on its website.
The minute long attacks, which included 42 blows, took place at the troops' home base.
The February 12th report titled "Shamed By 42 Brainless Blows" said that "The video -- later shown to the corporal's pals at their home base in Europe -- was exposed to the News of the World by a disgusted whistleblower."