Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to taking a break

I DID TOO!!!
Mary Anne — (archived)

I saw that ferret article! I printed it so I would never lose it again!

Seems I never thanked you, I guess. I'm sorry.

Thank you!!!

Re: rewriting history:

No one could ever convince me that the Soviet Union was a toothless tiger, not in the beginning. Later on, yes, but not until very close to the end. Sort-of like the Ottoman Empire, with whose remnants we are currently still dealing.

My biggest problem, and I have stated this elsewhere, is that if we are a nation of laws, founded on lofty principles, we are obliged to live up to who we are, not to define ourselves as better than those who murder lots of people for political interest because we have murdered only a few.

It's not that our enemies were good, or harmless. It's that we are supposed to know better, and we can't stand for something good in the world while acting like villains. I hold us to a higher standard of behavior because I believe we're better than they are.

When governments who oppress people do a little oppressing, people are never surprised, shocked or disappointed. This is what they expect. When governments who say before all the world that they stand for justice, freedom and self-determination commit murder, suppress election results in other nations that came out wrong for them, and support governments that are themselves oppressive for political gamesmanship, people are surprised, shocked or disappointed, and hurt. Something valuable is lost when Lady Liberty displays feet of clay. These feelings are followed closely by a sense of betrayal and distrust. It's not easy to kneecap yourself, but we've done it.

If we are the light of freedom, the scales of justice and the beacon of hope, as I believe we are (in my romantic naivete), then we have to strive to be that all the time, not just when it's convenient.

It's not just that we failed to be perfect. It's that we planned to betray our principles for political advantage. It makes me very angry, because it hurts me to my very soul.

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