"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." - CS Lewis (full quote inside)

submitted by Alduin from (self.quotes)

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[–]Alduin[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

You're just saying things that we think are wrong now but which others said at the time were for the good of the victims... Not that the good of the victims was the sole purpose, but it wasn't done with evil intent. It's shocking what your mind can believe is good for other people.

Just to take slavery as an example - read what slavers in America wrote. They weren't sadists. They believed there was a natural hierarchy of races, and god made the brown ones for servitude. In exchange they (the masters) did the more complex tasks of conducting business and managing finance, and provided food and shelter to those unfortunate primates who otherwise would surely starve.

It's easy to see things differently now that we're in the future. And in 500 years others will judge us now as being every bit as barbaric for entirely different practices. Morality is a social construct, and thus changes with the wind. The only moral course of action is to admit you don't know what's best and leave others alone.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

You're just saying things that we think are wrong now but which others said at the time were for the good of the victims... Not that the good of the victims was the sole purpose, but it wasn't done with evil intent.

False. If you're are foolish to believe the stated political byline, then that's your problem.. Only madmen admit to enjoying they're crimes.

He's a modern example: Rape still exists in our culture. People who rape: deny they rape, or call it something else, or blame the victim.
It's still rape, and they know it.
It's shameful that you would continue making excuses for others crimes.

Slavers knew what they were doing was wrong. Look up the Mississippi articles of succession, where they explicitly describe the economic benefits of slavery.
The colonists knew they were doing wrong, and did it anyway for profit.
This argument of yours is terribly weak argument. I refuse to believe that you're that naive.

And in 500 years others will judge us now as being every bit as barbaric for entirely different practices.

False. This era will be judges harshly, but less barbaric than slaver eras, or even segregation eras, which existed during the lifetime of those who are older than 55.
History is far from black and white, and this era will be judged against the progress that may be acheived in the future. Certain things will be judged harshly.
For example:

  • the Israeli extermination of the indigenous Palestinian population will be huge scar on that country's reputation,
  • Israel's numerous terrorist atrocities.
  • The US will have a black eye for supporting Israeli atrocities, as well.

It's shocking what your mind can believe is good for other people.

Blah, blah, blah.