Tsk, Tsk, Titian

The AFP:

India on Tuesday vowed to ban offensive material from the Internet after Facebook, Google and other major firms told the government they were unable to screen content before it was posted.

"My aim is that insulting material never gets uploaded," Sibal told reporters in New Delhi. "We will evolve guidelines and mechanisms to deal with the issue.

"They will have to give us the data, where these images are being uploaded and who is doing it."

Sibal said the government supported free speech and was against censorship but that some material on the Internet was so offensive that no one would find it acceptable.

We go round and round about this stuff all the time.

Let's take that last sentence:

"Sibal said the government supported free speech and was against censorship [nonsense; you want to censor something] but that some material on the Internet [what are the limits of "some" material] was so offensive [eye of the beholder, so forth] that no one would find it acceptable [define "no one." Define "acceptable"]."

Ah, the slippery language of a censor looking for someone to hang.

The goal of censors is always the same. It's not about eliminating the art/photos/text itself, it's about eliminating the person behind it. If you control language, you control thought. The ultimate power trip comes from two little words: Shut Up.

Hence, Sibal's statement: "They will have to give us the data, where these images are being uploaded and who is doing it."

You have to respect Sibal for his honesty. Canada is really no better than India in regards to censorship. Various "human rights" commissions in Canada run roughshod over free speech all the time, and drag all kinds of people into the star chamber for punishment. At least Sibal has the guts to say what he means.

In the meantime, until someone decides that Titian was way out of line and shuts down the Internet, enjoy gazing upon his Venus of Urbino (turn your head if you're offended).

I Wonder What He Means By That?

I often get dark enjoyment from listening to the media wags on CNN. Immediately after a politician's speech, or a warning from a warmonger, or a gunshot from a lunatic, the anchors turns to a "panel of experts" and ask, "What do you think he meant by that?"

I'm sure the following will have several anchors twisting in their chairs, trying to find some way of spinning this report (if they even cover it, of course):

The exchange between Mumbai terrorists Fahadullah and Abdul Rehman operating at the Trident Hotel and their Pakistani handlers provides a terrifying look at the minds of the masterminds behind the attack. The exchange shows they planned and executed the attack for maximum media coverage, ordered the murder of hostages, and cheered after the murders were carried out.

“Brother Abdul. The media is comparing your action to 9/11,” one unidentified handler said. “One senior police official has been killed,” referring to the chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad killed in an earlier gunfight.

“We are on the 10th/11th floor,” Abdul Rehman responded. “We have five hostages.”

“Everything is being recorded by the media,” the handler identified as Kafa told Rehman. “Inflict the maximum damage. Keep fighting. Don’t be taken alive.”

“Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims,” the other handler told Rehman and Fahadullah. “Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.”

“We have three foreigners, including women,” Fahadullah said. “From Singapore and China.”

“Kill them,” the handler said.

Hmmm. I wonder what he meant by that? I'm sure David Gergen could give us some fascinating incite into what this means for Pakistani/Indian/US/Israeli relations. Or perhaps Anderson Cooper could ask a panel of experts what the terrorists "really want." None of the experts will ponder that women and children are being shot precisely so the panel of experts will advertise the bogus desires of these killers. They'll just do it for free, providing a useful smokescreen. In their way, the media aids and abets evil people on a daily basis.

Whenever I hear the phony talk of what terrorists "want," I am reminded of Goldfinger:

"You expect me to talk?"

"Noooo, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die."