I don't want to see any reporter locked up, but how many corrupt politicians, military war criminals, and CEOs does America have in prison today? What does this say about us?
My entire problem with China is that what I'm being told largely comes from those who have an unbroken track record of lying in service of a murderous global empire -- and, gee whiz, it just so happens that China supposedly wants the exact same thing.
We were told Islamic terrorists were our mortal enemies; now we're arming them in Syria. When shameless liars do what we're told to fear from our "enemies", it's time to take a step back and think, particularly when those liars have access to well-stocked bunkers.
Call me shallow, but I'm unwilling to burn to death for such people.
There is a difference, I believe, in recognizing a government's repressive nature and going to war with it, which is what the current call to arms amounts to.
We managed to navigate a detente with the Soviet Union without sugarcoating their leadership, because we recognized areas where we shared common interests. I'm not seeing much of that now. Detente may not have been a perfect arrangement, but at least we're all still around to argue its merits.
You mentioned cynicism. What is more cynical than being handed a hammer by those who conveniently only see nails, but never their own? We hear regularly from the warmongers; just where the hell are the diplomats?
Very true. We have a standoff between much of the Left which refuses to admit anything bad being done by the Chinese government because it fears being associated with the Right which is, as you rightly point out, wanting what could become a global thermonuclear war. It's possible to recognise the repression and lack of democracy in China whilst also recognising the West's hypocrisy and its own crimes.
I don't want to see any reporter locked up, but how many corrupt politicians, military war criminals, and CEOs does America have in prison today? What does this say about us?
My entire problem with China is that what I'm being told largely comes from those who have an unbroken track record of lying in service of a murderous global empire -- and, gee whiz, it just so happens that China supposedly wants the exact same thing.
We were told Islamic terrorists were our mortal enemies; now we're arming them in Syria. When shameless liars do what we're told to fear from our "enemies", it's time to take a step back and think, particularly when those liars have access to well-stocked bunkers.
Call me shallow, but I'm unwilling to burn to death for such people.
See my reply to anti-republocrat below. Don't let your rightful scepticism about the media and NGOs become cynicism.
There is a difference, I believe, in recognizing a government's repressive nature and going to war with it, which is what the current call to arms amounts to.
We managed to navigate a detente with the Soviet Union without sugarcoating their leadership, because we recognized areas where we shared common interests. I'm not seeing much of that now. Detente may not have been a perfect arrangement, but at least we're all still around to argue its merits.
You mentioned cynicism. What is more cynical than being handed a hammer by those who conveniently only see nails, but never their own? We hear regularly from the warmongers; just where the hell are the diplomats?
Very true. We have a standoff between much of the Left which refuses to admit anything bad being done by the Chinese government because it fears being associated with the Right which is, as you rightly point out, wanting what could become a global thermonuclear war. It's possible to recognise the repression and lack of democracy in China whilst also recognising the West's hypocrisy and its own crimes.
What repression and lack of democracy?
Are you seriously claiming that China is a democracy and its government is open, transparent and liberal? You must have some very rose-tinted glasses.
I asked you a question. Why are you not answering, but deflecting?
I have a suspicion that you know nothing about how Chinese democracy works. But you know what western media tells you about it.
"We hear regularly from the warmongers; just where the hell are the diplomats?" in China.