Then it is likeliest that the society which is the most advanced in science and philosophy and culture would come closest to reflecting universal human values.
No it is not, actually. How you can draw a parallel between being advanced in science and reflecting universal human values is beyond me. Russians put the first man in space. They were clearly the most advanced scientifically at the time. Do you mean they were "closest to reflecting universal human values"? Would it be OK for them to start "freeing people from oppression" (which, incidentally, is exactly the way they put it in their party propaganda) by invading other countries and inflicting "regime change"?
You seem to believe the US is "most advanced in philosophy", and "culture" and I really don't want to go into that.
Besides, the point is not whether or not there is a set of universal sentiments and values. I believe there are.
However, that is not the point. The point is whether or not the only superpower has the right to impose its governmental system on the rest of the world.
according to universal human values, our desire to free people from oppression is very likely right
That would be very noble and I would be the first to applaud if that were the reason for the proposed invasion of Iraq.
1) Iraq has been a dictatorship for more than a decade and its people were being oppressed for even longer than that
2) Iraq is not the only country where people are being oppressed - think Iran, Tibet, Chechnya, etc etc etc. The fact that Iraq is singled out shows that this invasion is not about "freeing people from oppression".
Even if we assume that this is all about "freeing people from oppression", there are some serious issues to be considered:
1) Can the US save every oppressed nation around the globe?
2) Even if it can, should it or should it not, given its obligation to look after its own people first?
3) How does the US decide when a group of people are being oppressed? Ex: Ataturk was a benevolent dictator for the Turks. What if US decided to "free" Turkey from his "oppression" before he completed the change from Empire to Republic?
4) Is it not, ultimately, a nation's own privilege to draw their own destiny?
And so on. |
