From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue Apr 01 2003 - 13:00:55 MST
MaxPlumm@aol.com wrote:
>...
> That some people have absolutely nothing positive to say of the United
>States is deplorable. The freedoms that each and every human enjoys on this
>planet (those fortunate enough to enjoy some) can all be attributed to some
>degree to the United States. Yet some insist that merely because the US (or
>any other country) is powerful and in a dominant world position, than it is
>bad, or "might makes wrong", in huMania's words. This position too is not
>acceptable in any form to many on this list, and the record of the United
>States as compared to other major world powers, most notably the Soviet Union
>or Nazi Germany, is a necessary part of illustrating why the position of
>"might makes wrong" is not appropriate in all cases.
>...
>
>Regards,
>
>Max Plumm
>
And yet... might does make wrong. Monopolies are justly forbidden from
activities that non-monopolists engage in without (much) censure for
just that reason. This isn't intended to be understood as an assertion
that anyone sufficiently strong must be wrong, but merely that it is
reasonable to require extra restraint from them. It is reasonable that
they be given extra scrutiny. The leaders should be held to a higher
standard than the powerless, not to a lower standard. (I acknowledge
that this flys in the face of common practice, but I assert that it is a
requirement for a just society.)
-- -- Charles Hixson Gnu software that is free, The best is yet to be.
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