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Post by Mink on Jul 10, 2008 23:37:54 GMT -5
Subdjoe, first of all, I am not a "hardcore leftist".......I am a Democrat, yes.....and what does that have to do with the topic?
I am questioning what happened while the US fought in the Korean War. We actually knew they killed each other and from the same side!! This is recently disclosed and big....what does this make us?
quote: "Remember, we Americans are supposed to respect everyone elses culture."
hhhmmmm
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Post by harpman1 on Jul 11, 2008 9:48:27 GMT -5
It makes us an awful nation.
It is something we should apologize for.
It removes the moral foundation from anything we do.
It makes us equally guilty of crimes against humanity as any other evil corrupt regime.
Was that the answer that you were looking for?
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Post by bolverk on Jul 11, 2008 12:46:03 GMT -5
Regardless of who was in office...Democrat or Republican, this is unacceptable and I would imagine against the Geneva Law. The fact that we knew Koreans were killing Koreans should have been either addressed or we should have not been a part of this war! Geneva Convention, not law. |
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Post by bolverk on Jul 11, 2008 12:48:06 GMT -5
Well, within THEIR cultural context it was fine. Life in that part of the world has always been valued much differently (and much lower) than in the west. Remember, we Americans are supposed to respect everyone elses culture. Mink, what happened to your mantra of tolerance, inclusiveness, and diversity? I thought the hard core leftists like you were supposed to practice those traits for everyone except white Christian males. And, isn't relativism all the rage with the left? Since it was OK within their culture to do something like that, who are we to impose our white, euro-centric, Christian morality on them? Very good post, excellent in fact. I exalt you. |
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Post by bolverk on Jul 11, 2008 12:49:04 GMT -5
Subdjoe, first of all, I am not a "hardcore leftist" Yes you are. |
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Post by bolverk on Jul 11, 2008 12:50:33 GMT -5
I am questioning what happened while the US fought in the Korean War. We actually knew they killed each other and from the same side!! This is recently disclosed and big....what does this make us? Smart to stay out of their internal affairs, that is what it makes us. |
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Post by bolverk on Jul 11, 2008 13:16:27 GMT -5
I find it most interesting that they characterize the factions as left wing and right wing. Please note, left wing meant communist there, and right wing meant democracy.
Also, as pointed out by Frank Winslow, retired Army lieutenant colonel, "The Koreans were sovereign. To me, there was never any question that the Koreans were in charge." Yet, everyone from Jung Byung-joon to Mink wants to blame us for what a sovereign nation did.
Well, everyone except for Korean War scholar, Allan R. Millett, an emeritus Ohio State professor, who is doubtful. "I'm not sure there's enough evidence to pin culpability on these guys," he said, referring to the advisers and other Americans.
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Post by The New Guy on Jul 11, 2008 19:21:14 GMT -5
......and no, watching a sovereign nation kill people is NOT against the geneva conventions.
it's one of those situations where unless you were there you have no business criticizing.
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Post by jgaffney on Jul 13, 2008 23:47:20 GMT -5
I'm not re-writing history gaffney.....just questioning it or couldn't you see this? Before you can question history, you have to educate yourself in what was the prevailing attitude at that time regarding the threat from the Communist Chinese. Otherwise, yes, you are re-writing history based merely on your present-day moralistic judgements. |
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Post by Mink on Jul 14, 2008 0:03:39 GMT -5
I'm not re-writing history gaffney.....just questioning it or couldn't you see this? Before you can question history, you have to educate yourself in what was the prevailing attitude at that time regarding the threat from the Communist Chinese. Otherwise, yes, you are re-writing history based merely on your present-day moralistic judgements. If it was the prevailing attitute at that particular time, why is it being disclosed now? Why was it hidden in the first place? |
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Post by subdjoe on Jul 14, 2008 9:00:26 GMT -5
Mink wrote: "If it was the prevailing attitute at that particular time, why is it being disclosed now? Why was it hidden in the first place? "
Because the time period for it remaining classified is up. Because people are digging into what happened in Korea.
Why was it classified in the first place? Bad PR. Also, it is unfair to blame the Americans - this was, after all, a UN operation.
And, again, within the cultural context this was unremarkable. I know that this will get me branded as a racist, but it seems that in general asians do not place a high value on individual human life. This may have changed since WWII and a strong western influence in asia. But look at China now - the huge number of deaths in mining accidents every year. But why should they spend money on safety? There are always more peasants to take the place of those who die. And this is not a new attitude, nor is it restricted to China, that is just the example that came to mind.
To borrow from Gaff "Before you can question history, you have to educate yourself in what was the prevailing attitude at that time ... Otherwise, yes, you are re-writing history based merely on your present-day moralistic judgements. " That applies to not only this subject, but all subjects.
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Post by The Big Dog on Jul 14, 2008 16:40:21 GMT -5
To borrow from Gaff "Before you can question history, you have to educate yourself in what was the prevailing attitude at that time ... Otherwise, yes, you are re-writing history based merely on your present-day moralistic judgements. " That applies to not only this subject, but all subjects. And especially to adjudging the constitutionality of the law, I might add. |
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