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 see the political systems here in the UK as anything like democracies. We are closer to an oligarchy. As for China, a place which doesn't appear to allow free debate, there is so little information emerging that I can't tell. Perhaps you could provide a link to a China-based news & comment site that is not government propaganda.
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.
I don't see the political systems here in the UK as anything like democracies. We are closer to an oligarchy. As for China, a place which doesn't appear to allow free debate, there is so little information emerging that I can't tell. Perhaps you could provide a link to a China-based news & comment site that is not government propaganda.
"We hear regularly from the warmongers; just where the hell are the diplomats?" in China.