World events

True as that is, I still feel uncomfortable about it in some way. I suppose I just don't like the way this particular article (and many others like it) focus so much on nationality in the way that's it's written.



Well that's nice.

If they're going to tell us how many Britons survived, then I think it's also important to tell us (if they can) how many other people of other nationalities survived.

Yes, as I said the chances are that Britons will be concerned about British passengers, but you can't make that assumption outright. Perhaps some will be concerned with Australians too? Maybe even some Germans? So yes, I agree this kind of information is important, but singling out one nationality sits very uneasy with me.

I agree, that would be the ideal. But you said it yourself; "if they can". During breaking news disaster coverage things are reported as soon as they come in. They don't just wait until they know all the info there is to know, because there are alot of desperate viewers desperate to know what's going on.




Of course, but in a certain country the overwhelming number wants to hear about their own nationalities, because people of a certain nationality tend to be related to people of the same nationality. Sure there might be exceptions, but the press will always given more focus on information that a majority wants to hear.

Peter

Sopa, pipa, fbi closing down megaupload.

I like how Americans get touchy when people accuse them of being illogical.

** Megaupload sharing site shut down **
One of the internet's largest file-sharing sites is offline after US officials charged its founders with piracy, while hackers target US websites in response.
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16642369 >

French court overturns Armenian genocide denial law
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/28/world … index.html

This is unbelievable! It's been overturned because it would harm 'freedom of expression'. I thought this law was a good idea and would finally make it punishable to deny, question or soften these terrible events. I can't believe this is still a unsolved issue!

The trick with legal implications for denial is that while there would be strong support from a large proportion of the population for the offended party, it's impossible to be consistent (and therefore fair) approach for all issues that might invite such a ban. If it's applied to the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide, why not to every other genocide that can be indisputably proven? How long before a branch out from genocide, and climate change denial joins the list? Or it becomes illegal to claim that "rational, free, efficient" financial markets are actually more destructive than the national mechanisms they continually run up against? Enforceability would be a nightmare, the law can be bought, lobbied, captured and negotiated for, and in the end, you'd have a comprehensive list of things - ever growing - about which you couldn't have an opinion.

Not that I'd ever expect such legal powers to extend so far, but I'd be curious what the thinking is behind why some things are banned and others aren't.

Very simple: the Holocaust triggered all of it.
Its psychological and emotional impact was SO immense and staggering that there -logically- was a very strong pro-Jewish sentiment in the years following.
That is what gave us the ban on Mein Kampf and the illegality of denying the Holocaust.
And that also triggered the overbearing 'never again' attitude that drove the Armenian genocide law.

While the problem is highlighted above well enough by Franz (and I agree), I think the law should stand.
If only because then, in times to come, the -very real- Armenian genocide does not become 'just another opinion', as the Turkish government would prefer it. I think it's good that with all the massive failures of the world community to stop pure, unadulterated evil -Somalia, Darfur, The Balkans, Rwanda- the world at leats takes a formalised stand as a point of principle: we, the world, acknowledge BY LAW that this horrible thing happened.
Even when it could never be enforced, it's still there as a societal statement.

And everyone is still allowed his opinion, of course. Even to the contrary. Even on birthday parties or in the privacy of your own home, where prosecution (already unfeasable) seems even more unlikely.

But know that your opinion in that case is WRONG.
Yes, I said it. There CAN be wrong opinions, our ultra-individualist "all opinions count" mentality notwithstanding.
NOT all opinions count. If you're a fucking moron with a fucking moronic opinion that go against established fact and demand merit SOLELY on the basis of BEING an opinion, your opinion is SHiT to me and I deeply regret having no legal recourse to prevent you voting or indeed even having kids.

So why the Holocaust en the Armenian genocide, and not, for example, the Rwandan one?
Cynically, but realistically: the Jews and the Armenians have far better lobbyists and politicians. And some genocides are extremely inconvenient politically (the US made an utter political mess with Rwanda, debating the very definition of genocide while it was taking place, because committing troops was simply too costly and without benefit. And while you can debate the practicality of this approach, it at the very least broke the *letter* of the UN charter, which DEMANDS the world's action in case of genocide, no matter what the cost).

In fact I left out quite a few more, which are still debated.
Here's exactly the heart of the issue.
Millions (just try and imagine it! MILLIONS) of people -civilian people- are killed and -best case scenario- the world debates whether or not it should intervene.

Ah yes. Apologies. Indeed I generally tend to ignore the funnier sides of genocide too much. (The funny side of genocide! Now THERE's a musical title!)

Accident?!?

Horrible news.

This is so sad. They are children.

Why is life like that?

It's indeed pure media hysteria, and it actually is not surprising. One of our news papers even printed a afternoon paper about the event (free), of 20 pages. I can't imagine what useful info was in it.

My Dad spent a few years there.

British colony stuff?