If you don't think the Free World has any meaning, ask a Uighur what they think it means, or anyone else in China when they are confident they won't be overheard by a party official.
My country is doing some awful things, including imprisoning asylum seekers on two pacific islands for about 7 years now. But I and millions of other Australians can yell and protest and publish about it without any regard for our personal safety or fear of discrimination. We can even, through a quirk of the system, get a compassionate law passed against the will of the Government, to allow any sick prisoners to be treated in Australia. That won't last much longer, but it happened.
So before despairing too much about the obvious faults of our various countries, have a look at the value of our freedom. Can any of you say that you wish you lived in a totalitarian or authoritarian country instead of a WEIRD country?
I want freedom for every country, because freedom is the base upon which a just society can be built.
Nicely put.
From this side of the world, I am conscious of the appalling treatment of Asylum seekers in Australia, not least because of the idiots in the UK who score points by saying "Let's be more like Australia...."
However your post makes the really good point about our freedoms: They are not a given. Which is why in the entire Western World (whatever that means) we really must stand up for these freedoms or they will be lost.
This is about Trump
This is about Brexit
It is about the appalling state of our Justice system*
It is about the NHS
It is about our criminal Welfare system that abuses the most vulnerable in our society.
We must use the freedoms to speak out that you so eloquently describe. Because if we don't, none of us will like where we end up.
AFZ
*I'm just reading the Secret Barrister. He makes a really good case for how good our judicial system can be and how the chronic underfunding upto 2010 meant it never lived up to its promise before the evil** decisions of the government since then has left it failing us all.
**Yes, I do mean 'evil' - if you wish to argue we might need another thread but evil is so often banal. The underresourcing of the Criminal Justice System means that real people when caught up in it - be they victim or accused or whatever - are chewed up and spat out. Lives are destroyed because a cynical government decided it could cut the Dept for Justice's funding as much as it wanted and no-one would notice. It is terrifying how far we are from a just system as a result.
The "free world" was a concept put forth in the times of the Cold War. America is only leader of the free world insofar as they can do business and profit these days. Hence the non-free world in Latin America which has a long history of support for dictators, fomenting revolution, training militaries at the US Army School of the Americas to definately not support freedom. I don't think Iraq was led into freedom, nor Afghanistan, nor Syria, and neither will Iran be. It's nice that the leader of the free world is so cosy with Saudi Arabia which is so darn free.
Meanwhile, in North Korea they've executed the people who organized the meeting between Kim Jong Un and Trump.
Not all of them. Some have been sent to political prisoner camps or sentenced to forced labor. I'm guessing that in North Korea "forced labor" is a death sentence with an indeterminate date.
The free world concept was developed in the cold war, but remains highly relevant. Its just that the USA is abusing its position of trust and acting unilaterally. I am sure all right-thinking people in the WEIRD world want the United States to take up the mantle of the conciliar head of the Free World, acting as leader but leading us in a consensus manner. It has the power and the capacity to lead us in this way, and to be a force for good in the world.
None of those wars you talk about were about the liberation of those nations, and nor was Vietnam. You know what they were. You know the language of freedom was used to justify some, and you know that the leaders of the free world were bullshitting.
But they chose to bullshit using the language of freedom and liberation from oppression because those ideas are powerful motivators. Those ideas are powerful motivators because they are true, and they speak to our hearts.
Remember the ancient pig latin saying used by the Gracchi brothers as they sought political freedoms for Rome's plebians: Torres excretum mentum deludit (bull shit baffles brains). Don't let the bullshit of our leaders baffle your brains, like they baffled the brains of so many of our WEIRD compatriots.
The free world concept was developed in the cold war, but remains highly relevant. Its just that the USA is abusing its position of trust and acting unilaterally. I am sure all right-thinking people in the WEIRD world want the United States to take up the mantle of the conciliar head of the Free World, acting as leader but leading us in a consensus manner. It has the power and the capacity to lead us in this way, and to be a force for good in the world.
None of those wars you talk about were about the liberation of those nations, and nor was Vietnam. You know what they were. You know the language of freedom was used to justify some, and you know that the leaders of the free world were bullshitting.
But they chose to bullshit using the language of freedom and liberation from oppression because those ideas are powerful motivators. Those ideas are powerful motivators because they are true, and they speak to our hearts.
Remember the ancient pig latin saying used by the Gracchi brothers as they sought political freedoms for Rome's plebians: Torres excretum mentum deludit (bull shit baffles brains). Don't let the bullshit of our leaders baffle your brains, like they baffled the brains of so many of our WEIRD compatriots.
The free world concept was developed in the cold war, but remains highly relevant. Its just that the USA is abusing its position of trust and acting unilaterally. I am sure all right-thinking people in the WEIRD world want the United States to take up the mantle of the conciliar head of the Free World, acting as leader but leading us in a consensus manner. It has the power and the capacity to lead us in this way, and to be a force for good in the world.
None of those wars you talk about were about the liberation of those nations, and nor was Vietnam. You know what they were. You know the language of freedom was used to justify some, and you know that the leaders of the free world were bullshitting.
But they chose to bullshit using the language of freedom and liberation from oppression because those ideas are powerful motivators. Those ideas are powerful motivators because they are true, and they speak to our hearts.
Remember the ancient pig latin saying used by the Gracchi brothers as they sought political freedoms for Rome's plebians: Torres excretum mentum deludit (bull shit baffles brains). Don't let the bullshit of our leaders baffle your brains, like they baffled the brains of so many of our WEIRD compatriots.
Ooh, that's bad. Should be Tauri or Taurorum.
Ahem... That's one of the sources of the phrase, "Stercus tauri". You can look it up.
The free world concept was developed in the cold war, but remains highly relevant. Its just that the USA is abusing its position of trust and acting unilaterally. I am sure all right-thinking people in the WEIRD world want the United States to take up the mantle of the conciliar head of the Free World, acting as leader but leading us in a consensus manner. It has the power and the capacity to lead us in this way, and to be a force for good in the world.
None of those wars you talk about were about the liberation of those nations, and nor was Vietnam. You know what they were. You know the language of freedom was used to justify some, and you know that the leaders of the free world were bullshitting.
But they chose to bullshit using the language of freedom and liberation from oppression because those ideas are powerful motivators. Those ideas are powerful motivators because they are true, and they speak to our hearts.
Remember the ancient pig latin saying used by the Gracchi brothers as they sought political freedoms for Rome's plebians: Torres excretum mentum deludit (bull shit baffles brains). Don't let the bullshit of our leaders baffle your brains, like they baffled the brains of so many of our WEIRD compatriots.
Ooh, that's bad. Should be Tauri or Taurorum.
Ahem... That's one of the sources of the phrase, "Stercus tauri". You can look it up.
Meanwhile, may Angels and Ministers of Grace defend us poor Uklanders from The Madness Of The Orange Oaf (due to favour us with His Gracious and All-Saving Presence tomorrow).
I can't find the link today, but IIRC yesterday BBC News told us that Trump encourages us to get out of the EU, and that he says Farage (!) is the man to lead us...to perdition? Or to some Utopian paradise that only The Orange Oaf, and Niggle the Garbage, can see?
O, and just to confirm us of his Bonkersness, The Orange Oaf tells us that Bojo the Clown is a suitable next Prime Minister...
Truly, there is an alternative universe, and somehow, some of its denizens appear to have crossed into this one.
I’m going on news blackout for three days from now - all I’m playing on the radio is music playlists, no news, no TV. I can’t look at that smug, fat orange face.
I am sure that he would love a tour of the Tower of London -- see how it's really done since he loves walls and locking people up. Then "Oops! We seem to have lost the key" as the door slams to whatever chamber he's gotten himself in.
I had a nap and woke from it with the musical number for Dumpy's visit. He sings "they love me, they love me", the chorus responds "we hate you, we hate you", Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage enter the stage and also sing "they love me", the 3 of them look at each other, and start singing "they love us", and then begin to sing "me me me", there's a punch up, and the chorus gets louder drowning then out. Putin comes to the stage and gives then a shove as the 3 fall off and he sings quietly as an aside to the audience, "they love me" and we understand the 3 of them love him.
Will the Queen be well enough to receive him? Does she feel a diplomatic but royal dose of flu hitting her, on which is running through all the other royalty in the UK? She did do her duty with the Ceascescus, but Trump must be beyond this limit.
Am I oversensitive, or is making reference to the height of someone of Indian sub-continent origin inherently racist, given the stereotype of their being short?
Am I oversensitive, or is making reference to the height of someone of Indian sub-continent origin inherently racist, given the stereotype of their being short?
Perhaps, but because Mr Khan towers above trump in his decency, intelligence and leadership ability, I doubt anyone takes trump's pathetic insults seriously. He's becoming as tiresome as an old dog that stops to piss at every lamp post.
As well he should be. Judging from photos from years past, he wasn't bad looking in his youth. But like most people who don't allow themselves to age gracefully, he now looks like a caricature of himself.
I see that the Horrible Little Brown Muslim Loser was (as one might expect) at a service in Southwark Cathedral this evening, marking the anniversary of the London Bridge terrorist attack and murders.
Am I oversensitive, or is making reference to the height of someone of Indian sub-continent origin inherently racist, given the stereotype of their being short?
Perhaps, but because Mr Khan towers above trump in his decency, intelligence and leadership ability, I doubt anyone takes trump's pathetic insults seriously. He's becoming as tiresome as an old dog that stops to piss at every lamp post.
Melania's dress was awful and boring but at least it was formal. Ivanka dressed for some other event. And I have no idea why they bothered with a state dinner for a jerk who serves fast food. Railway bacon baps would have been more appropriate and more to his taste anyway.
I had a nap and woke from it with the musical number for Dumpy's visit. He sings "they love me, they love me", the chorus responds "we hate you, we hate you", Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage enter the stage and also sing "they love me", the 3 of them look at each other, and start singing "they love us", and then begin to sing "me me me", there's a punch up, and the chorus gets louder drowning then out. Putin comes to the stage and gives then a shove as the 3 fall off and he sings quietly as an aside to the audience, "they love me" and we understand the 3 of them love him.
One of the surreal things about these visits is that nothing happens, apart from lots of frocks and strained smiles. Nobody believes all the assurances of amity, although I suppose there may be discussions of future deals. I suppose Trump gets some good backgound shots of royalty, but what do the Brits get out of it?
Comments
Nicely put.
From this side of the world, I am conscious of the appalling treatment of Asylum seekers in Australia, not least because of the idiots in the UK who score points by saying "Let's be more like Australia...."
However your post makes the really good point about our freedoms: They are not a given. Which is why in the entire Western World (whatever that means) we really must stand up for these freedoms or they will be lost.
This is about Trump
This is about Brexit
It is about the appalling state of our Justice system*
It is about the NHS
It is about our criminal Welfare system that abuses the most vulnerable in our society.
We must use the freedoms to speak out that you so eloquently describe. Because if we don't, none of us will like where we end up.
AFZ
*I'm just reading the Secret Barrister. He makes a really good case for how good our judicial system can be and how the chronic underfunding upto 2010 meant it never lived up to its promise before the evil** decisions of the government since then has left it failing us all.
**Yes, I do mean 'evil' - if you wish to argue we might need another thread but evil is so often banal. The underresourcing of the Criminal Justice System means that real people when caught up in it - be they victim or accused or whatever - are chewed up and spat out. Lives are destroyed because a cynical government decided it could cut the Dept for Justice's funding as much as it wanted and no-one would notice. It is terrifying how far we are from a just system as a result.
Not all of them. Some have been sent to political prisoner camps or sentenced to forced labor. I'm guessing that in North Korea "forced labor" is a death sentence with an indeterminate date.
I can't help but think that Trump is jealous of this.
America is leader of other things.
None of those wars you talk about were about the liberation of those nations, and nor was Vietnam. You know what they were. You know the language of freedom was used to justify some, and you know that the leaders of the free world were bullshitting.
But they chose to bullshit using the language of freedom and liberation from oppression because those ideas are powerful motivators. Those ideas are powerful motivators because they are true, and they speak to our hearts.
Remember the ancient pig latin saying used by the Gracchi brothers as they sought political freedoms for Rome's plebians: Torres excretum mentum deludit (bull shit baffles brains). Don't let the bullshit of our leaders baffle your brains, like they baffled the brains of so many of our WEIRD compatriots.
Ooh, that's bad. Should be Tauri or Taurorum.
Ahem... That's one of the sources of the phrase, "Stercus tauri". You can look it up.
I had already translated it...
Alright alright, I will write it out a thousand times on a Roman administrative building in Jerusalem.
I can't find the link today, but IIRC yesterday BBC News told us that Trump encourages us to get out of the EU, and that he says Farage (!) is the man to lead us...to perdition? Or to some Utopian paradise that only The Orange Oaf, and Niggle the Garbage, can see?
O, and just to confirm us of his Bonkersness, The Orange Oaf tells us that Bojo the Clown is a suitable next Prime Minister...
Truly, there is an alternative universe, and somehow, some of its denizens appear to have crossed into this one.
Or something.
😡😡😡
We will also be providing dessert to everyone in the UK for the next five years as a settlement for pain and suffering.
Sky News has the right idea ...
It's the Howay.
Indeed He is - but what a contrast to the gentle, dignified, Mr Khan...
Mayor Bill de Blasio is 6'5" (1.96 m), but Trump hates him too. (I'm sure the fact that his wife is African American doesn't help any.)
Yes and Trump thinks they are spying for the Chines government.
This.
I note from somewhere on the interweb that there wasn't a red carpet when he landed - maybe Stansted hasn't got one ...
He does seem to have a thing about height - isn't one of the reasons he's rude about Messrs. Obama and Trudeau that they're both taller* than he is?
* and better looking ...
And a LOT more intelligent and personable.
Stay off the rich cheeses before bedtime NP
Our poor Queen (God bless her) looked really fed up, stuck standing between the Oaf and Melancholia.
Compare and contrast.
OTOH, she may have just spotted the caterpillar in his salad...
That's wonderful! Unfortunately, he probably saw only his name and took it as a great compliment.
"With" or "at"? It's an important distinction.
BTW, is there to be a YUGE and BIGLY parade to celebrate the Lord Protector of the World's visit to this humble appendage of His Empire?
It's raining hard at the moment, hopefully in preparation...
Well, we can contrast, but there IS no comparison.
I've heard that she does amazing impersonations -- THAT is one I'd love to see!
That is one overstuffed sausage. Wow...