This post will most likely not make me any friends, but I have to say this:
Why is it that we feel that America has to right every damned injustice in the world?
Yes, there are some causes that I feel strongly about and will fight to the death for, obviously, I mean I've been utterly obsessed about the lack of CHD awareness and research funding for 5 months now, but I think you all realize that I take that personally because it's affected me personally.
For example: I am not, nor do I understand how anyone else is, feeling indignant about the men who had to put their hands in boiling oil to prove they didn't embezzle money (in India I believe.) Nor am I writing my congressmen to raise a stink about a man in... what country was it? I don't remember- but he was forced to marry a goat because they caught him screwing it... Nope, I find that one amusing actually. And there are people somewhere (again, can't remember the country) who have been sentenced to death for infecting patients with HIV. I don't know if they did it or not, and frankly, it isn't my problem, or that of America, if they hang/stone/beat them to death.
There are millions upon millions of people worldwide who are being punished in some arcane fashion for millions of things. No, I don't neccessarily agree with what's going on but I can't find it in me to need to fight for them all. Nor do I believe that America should.
I think America is far too involved in foreign countries' affairs as it is. America is an entity, much like a person, and one person can only fight so many battles, and a wise person carefully chooses which battles to fight. America shouldn't be interjecting itself into every damn situation all over the world, no matter how wrong it is. It just isn't our responsibility!
We, as a nation, are so convinced that we're superior, we're so damn conceited to think we have the right to force our ways on other cultures. We think that the way we do things is "the right way." Well, looking at the stuff in OUR news should be enough to prove that theory wrong. I think we need to concentrate on our own damn country and our domestic affairs a little more, and a little less on other countries' problems...
*steps off her soap box*
I agree, America gets way to involved in “other countries problems”. Sometimes the countries don't even think they have a problem until WE deride they do. I don't know if you're talking about the war on terrorism. To be politically correct, “not the good ones, of course”, but there are many Muslims that want to kill us all, Americans anyway. Quite frankly, it scares the shit out of me. Am I a victim of propaganda? I don't think so. I suppose they hate us for the same reason you wrote this. We butt in way too often. Well, that came full circle, didn't it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure I agree with everything you said, but I admire you for saying it. That's one of the things I love about you, your willingness to speak your mind, an admirable character trait. But I am just as sure that if you are presented with another perspective based on supportive reason, that you could be objective, perhaps shift your position if it conflicted with your moral values. After all, absoluteness is only absolute until our way of thinking becomes insufficient to solve issues, or no longer supports our views.
ReplyDeleteNow, after I dive into this thing again, I’ll let you know what I think.
~ James
First allow me to say that I’m not in the minutest way familiar with these instances (I probably should be before I speak, this position is based on your post).But here’s my take: If any men living in any society in which such a consequence is probable and the people subscribe to these ways, laws, whatever, and they willingly emerged their hands into boiling oil, then it’s certainly not productive or healthy for that matter to feel indignant. After all, they knew, they stuck their hand in it, and, quite possibly, they could have been guilty, and this little display of loyalty vs. death is a mere slap on the wrist.
ReplyDeleteThe goat fucker, well, that shits just hilarious. Justice was served, warm probably all over his dinky.
The HIV thing, I’ll just have to more for that.
America indeed sticks its nose where it doens’t belong. A LOT. And yes, it’s true: a wise person carefully chooses they battles they to fight for, rather argue for. I am against violence in any fashion. It should be the absolute last resort, if ever, anywhere. But you can bet your last dollar on this: if America’s there, there’s an agenda, and it’s not to do what’s morally right. Is it our responsibility to interject, that depends on the situation and circumstances.
We do not have the right to force our veiws on anyone. The way America does things is not The Way, that’s for sure. There is a way for country, but we, as whole, are far from that point.
This the James signing off, I hope you enjoyed the ride.
Type-O. Fo sho.
ReplyDelete*Applause*
ReplyDeleteTell it, girl! I do fight some overseas battles, clearly. When they hang 16 and 18 year old boys in Iran because they had gay sex, I think that is a harsh lesson that leaves nothing to be learned except fear and I oppose instilling fear in people. But that is what governments often do.
ReplyDeleteI fight for the poverty stricken victims of HIV in the developing world because our pharma industry has been fighting against the development of generic drugs to help them stem the pandemic. Our stock-market and profit-driven mindsets make it more important to get return on investment than to save a child in Soweto or India or Thailand. That is just wrong. I feel a need to point it out.
On the other hand, I agree with you that America does not have the totality of experience, the patent on knowledge or the moral superiority to tell everyone else how to live. We could and should learn from everyone and the world would be a better place simply through interaction and communication.