(no subject)
here's (I think) an interesting idea. in order to determine whether your side is the "good guys" or the "bad guys" ask the question: if my side wins will the sum of all tyranny in the world increase or decrease? If it won't change, then everyone is the "bad guys" because all that's happening is people are getting killed for no reason. If over-all tyranny will be significantly decreased if one side wins, then they are clearly the "good guys".
when determining this, you have to take into account not just who is decreasing your freedom, but the sum of all freedoms. This means, if your personal rights are in direct opposition to someone else's personal rights, and their rights are being upheld at the cost of your own... then there's a good chance that going to war will simply change whose rights are upheld instead of making sure everyone's rights are upheld. know what I mean?
I think I may not be explaining myself terribly well, but try thinking with me about conflicts in those terms. given the presumption that all people are equally important and deserving, regardless of their beliefs or how disgusting we may think they are, what really is the best outcome?
when determining this, you have to take into account not just who is decreasing your freedom, but the sum of all freedoms. This means, if your personal rights are in direct opposition to someone else's personal rights, and their rights are being upheld at the cost of your own... then there's a good chance that going to war will simply change whose rights are upheld instead of making sure everyone's rights are upheld. know what I mean?
I think I may not be explaining myself terribly well, but try thinking with me about conflicts in those terms. given the presumption that all people are equally important and deserving, regardless of their beliefs or how disgusting we may think they are, what really is the best outcome?