Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cadre.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!decvax!mcnc!idis!cadre!geb From: geb@cadre.UUCP Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: re:hypocrisy Message-ID: <234@cadre.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Jun-84 12:54:33 EDT Article-I.D.: cadre.234 Posted: Wed Jun 6 12:54:33 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jun-84 08:29:23 EDT Organization: Decision Systems Lab., Univ. of Pgh. Lines: 35 > Whenever I see commentary of this type, I'm at a loss to know what it > is supposed to mean. Does it mean that: > > 1) They're no worse than us > 2) We're OK > 3) Therefore, They're OK > > or does it mean that: > > 1) We're no better than they are > 2) They're no good > 3) Therefore, we're no good > > ...? > > Comparing their behavior to ours does not diminish its (their) > loathsomeness even one little bit. However, at least in this > country, we have a right to make that comparison without being > shipped off to a Gulag. That's not the point. One expects dictatorships to kill lots of people; that's the only way they can maintain their power. What is sad is that we have blood on our hands too. I am no pacifist; I believe in self-defense, but not in policing the world and backing bloody dictators just because they oppose our most powerful adversary. Most important, in our society, stirring up people about the crimes of the leaders has a chance of effecting some change, while in a dictatorship, only the ruling clique can make changes, and they are not going to be much chastened by our recounting their crimes. G. Banks vax135!cadre!geb