It was Voltaire who practically coined the quote "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." We are at a point in our planet's life where the quote could be accepted by individual people within a society, even if only partially in most instances, but for sure it is refuted totally by modern political leaders, their oligarchies and machines, dragging their countries and states with them blindly.
Everywhere, from the poorest societies to some of the most advanced industrial and cultured societies, blunt examples of the steady war on free speech, free expression of ideas, free opinions and criticism, with it as well a clear and total erosion of accountability to any false, fake or fabricated news, ideas or even an entire political system of governance. But the hope of us collectively correcting ourselves through some real democratic methods of elections is still available, at least in some parts of the world.
What we need in parallel is to strengthen the same degree of freedom of speech and ideas and fair accountability to countries and states around our shared globe. The same individual principle should be transcended to entire countries, and not having one or more exert forceful pressures and wars, invasions and mass or individual killings and destruction, over differences of perspectives or ideas, or political disputes and divergence. And surely not for hegemony or colonialism and imperialism, be it economical, territorial or religious. I don't see why if Venezuela decides to go socialist, or Iran and Saudi Muslim, the US or Israel should aim at their destruction.
Classically it was the European colonizing half the world, plus their wars among each other, then came the Soviet Union total take-over of practically all its neighboring countries within Europe and Asia, later came Israel with its systematic destruction of everyone of its surrounding people, plus their illegal territorial grabbing of all Palestinian lands and wealth. It was a clear pattern that institutionalized and legitimized the process of hegemony.
For the past 60 or so years it became an American fixed role, with all our numerous very destructive adventures and endless wars to perpetuate this barbaric international situation under many names and headings and false pretenses, the U.S. nowadays is giving the clear signal worldwide that hegemony, invasions and killings and destruction are OK. and subduing other nations, entire populations, cultures and economies is rather the norm than not.
One with some optimism could have hoped that by the 21st century, humanity would have realized the absolute futility of these for ever wars. But G.W.Bush disastrous Iraqi adventure, more of it in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Yemen, are all reminders of our continuous will and determination to subdue all and any non conforming entity. North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and many in Latin America, as previously Vietnam and the cold war, are all but clear reminders to our super-villain attitude and that of our leaders, mostly for personal interests, elections and neocons and war machines affiliated to them.
The present administration is backed by a base of armed racist, sexist homophobic and xenophobic white conservative, blending end times and rapture beliefs and politics, all protected by a bunch of partisan and selfish GOP members willing to do anything for safeguarding their wealth and positions. The Trump administration of Iraq-war architects and war mongers deliberately established a policy of hostility and antagonism toward Iran, violated the international nuclear agreement, imposed crushing sanctions on Iran's economy and people, and lately assassinated several top military personnel, putting us on a direct confrontational path with all of the Mid-East.
Now that we are on the brink of war, despite the limited responses of all sides, we are all refusing to accept blame or accountability. Mr. Trump rejects the idea that America could be held accountable for its actions, refusing even to recognize the international Criminal Court, embracing blatantly the doctrine of absolute patriotism. Again we are living in a time of dismissive demagoguery, promoting a know-nothing politics of swaggering arrogance and bravado, driven by scorn and spite and stupid smiles.
Our ability to have a respectful disagreement with our opponents, is being torn to shreds in deliberate acts of childish irresponsibility. covered with very theatrical and pre-staged scenes, for totally other reasons than what appears on the ground. Mr. Trump's claim that he will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon as long as he's president, is cheap Israeli propaganda, he will not call for a nuclear-free zone, covering the entire Middle-East/North Africa, as the Arab league and many Arab states are calling for.
Last week events have made it clearer than ever that Mr. Trump has no Iran strategy, just a bundle of impulses and prejudices, his acts and comments and speeches are so light headed and only serving his personal reelection purposes and a diversion of his actual problems with impeachment and others.
As always, my profound many thanks to all my good readers.
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