Quote:I have about a million things to say on the issue, but i think we should start with this.


The systematic rape torture and killing isn't wrong because America's past is perfect, its not wrong because white Europeans are perfect, its not wrong to make my fourth of july party any better, Its not wrong because we magically erased slavery and Jim Crowe from the history books, its wrong because it defies any concept of human value or decency and defies any standard of how we as human beings should treat one another.


This isn't about demonization or moral relativism. This is about plainly articulating the truth about the behavior of a subset of people and making the case that the behavior should stop.


The first step in SMART power is identifying the motivations of the enemy. In order for that to work you have to be honest about it.

I think this, as a general statement, it's something we can all agree on.


Obviously the philosophies of how to wisely exert the power of our government is what is in contention.


The reason I bring up the past of the US is not to exploit our tenancy towards moral relativism.


It's to point out that there are clear instances where propaganda was used to expedite the political will of a nation towards an action that may not be as savory if we did not demonize that perceived enemy.


The Iranian regime is not a good actor. The Iranian people should not be demonized as the same as their government... we've seen what happens when we lump an entire group into one homogenous evil.


That's all

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