Let's Spend a Few Days Praising New Media and Press Freedom, by Philip J. Crowley

Please enjoy a Hearty Laugh with Mr Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. State Department... Previously unrecognized, Mr Crowley's extraordinarily dry, acerbic satire is remarkable for its icy, razored reserve.

It's when you reach the part about New Media where your eyes start to water; when you get to the part about Government Censorship, and Enduring Commitment it's almost too much to take

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/12/152465.htm

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.

The theme for next year’s commemoration will be 21^st 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.

As much as it runs over the joke with a truck tire, here's the Jim Carrey version of the joke:

http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/08/paypal-wikileaks/

Milo Yannopoulos’ first question on stage to PayPal’s VP of Platform Osama Bedier was why PayPal blocked WikiLeaks payments and froze its account. The question was met with boos from the mostly European audience.

Bedier made it seem like PayPal had complied with governmental request, “We have an acceptable use policy and their job is making sure that our customers are protected, that we comply with regulations around the world, and that we protect our brand.”

Bedier also said that the State Department deemed WikiLeaks illegal on November 27th, a statement that was not followed up on by Yiannopoulos. It is still unclear what exact US laws WikiLeaks is breaking.