CameronPoe wrote:
You're avoiding the issue here. The west is being culturally imperialistic, fact. It is not our place to do so, irrespective of whether or not it benefits those being subjected to our will. Why didn't Latin America work out after decades of western intervention, western backed dictatorships and in the past couple of decades western-style governments? Both Germany and Japan were countries that had western principles very much at their heart - getting them on board was not difficult - nations that are totally different culturally from us we should keep our noses out of. Look at how well democracy is ticking along nicely in Africa.... You can't force people to adapt and change beyond their time, there was no forcing of Japan or Germany: they were already 'westernised'. Besides, the America of those days is a damn site different to modern America. Do you really believe your patronising application of western norms on Middle East desert hotpots of ethnic hatred is gonna work? I don't see anything resembling Germany coming out of Iraq or Afghanistan right now... Let individual peoples decide their own path. You know fine well that the Iraq mission has nothing to do with 'freedom' or 'democracy' - they would just be an added bonus.
PS The US ANNEXED the Phillipines in the late 19th century (good ole traditional imperialism).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine-American_WarPPS I was offering China and Malaysia as examples of nations choosing their own path - not being badgered by us. Having said that, the US, British, French and Russians had lots of military actions and 'protecting our interests' within China in the earlier part of the last century. You should perhaps read up on the 'Concessions' the Chinese royal family had to make to western powers.
PPPS I'd love to see a straw poll of Iraqis on their view of the American military occupation. I'm sure they love you guys. You basically kicked open the doorway marked 'Al Qaeda entry point'. Mr. Bremer also made several hundred thousand men unemployed and unable to feed their families in one click of his fingers. GG.
Bottom line is this: we very rarely do anything unless ultimately it benefits us in the long run - especially if it comes at a human and financial cost. That's human nature and you know it. Do you really think those millions of Vietnamese the US killed was worth delaying the inevitable communist state which, as it happens, is economically growing at an astronomical rate right now under their own guidance. Wanting every nation to be like the US is not very 'pluralistic'. The 'free movement of capital' that westernisation generally entails, certainly in Latin America, just generates enormous gaps between rich and poor where multinationals exploit their underdevelopment and the small existing elite maintain control over all the wealth - imperfect capitalism, too much imbalance at the outset.
culturally imperialistic
-very creative of you, you are culturally challenged.
Both Germany and Japan were countries that had western principles very much at their heart getting them on board was not difficult
- Japan???? Western Values???? this may well be the stupidest thing I have ever seen you post.
nations that are totally different culturally from us we should keep our noses out of
- like Korea and Japan, huh. People just hate freedom and democracy everywhere, is that why China just can't seem to keep US citizens from sneaking into their country.
Do you really believe your patronising application of western norms on Middle East desert hotpots of ethnic hatred is gonna work
- not really, but it could if the US is willing to spend billions more and wait 20 more years. This is why I am against spending billions there, you are the one that called the US emperialistic (note, you did not make up culturally imperialistic until I pointed out how stupid this was)
PS The US ANNEXED the Phillipines in the late 19th century (good ole traditional imperialism).
- I thought you were talking about " cultural imperialism " now, which stupid comment do you wish me to take you to task on? Either case thanks for not trying to honestly cite this as an example of imperialism and just linking wiki so you wouldn't look more foolish.
PPS I was offering China and Malaysia as examples of nations choosing their own path
- yet you state in the next sentence
"Having said that, the US, British, French and Russians had lots of military actions and 'protecting our interests' within China "
- so they didn't " choose their own path " or wait they did or wait they didn't or wait......... doesn't really fucking matter which side of your ass you talk out of because WTF DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH " US IMPERIALISM " OR "US CULTURAL IMPERIALISM"
I'd love to see a straw poll of Iraqis on their view of the American military occupation.
- who gives a fuck what they think, they kicked out UN weapons inspectors and thumbed their nose at UN resolutions and fired upon US war planes and went against cease fire agreement imposed after they invaded Kwait and not all countries can be as worthless as Ireland. Well, except France, Russia, and Germany who were content with making money off weapons and oil contracts from Iraq.
You really need to go hug a tree or something because you have a lot of pent up anger towards the USA.
Last edited by Lotta_Drool (2008-05-08 16:00:08)