General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This is probably going to start some shit, [View all]
Caliman73
(11,767 posts)The United States has stood up for human rights? Consistently? As a "western value"?
Like when we have supported right wing governments in Central America?
Like when we supported the coup in Chile to replace Salvador Allende with Pinochet?
Like supporting the the Brazilian military junta that lasted like 20 years?
Like supporting the ouster of Mossadegh and the installation of the Iranian Shah leading to the Islamic Revolution?
Like supporting the Saudi government that is basically a theocracy?
Don't get me wrong. I do think that we as a country espouse the belief that women should have rights, that workers should have rights, that popular democracy should be promoted, etc... I just think it is a bit odd that our history and current policies fall very short of such a general statement.
President Biden is fundamentally a decent and kind human being. I can say that unequivocally. He truly cares about people. You could see that in how he talked about being with the victims and survivors of the recent violence in Gaza and Israel. Under his leadership, we do have a good chance at living up to our ideals. I cannot however, say that it is "evident" that western values automatically means "standing up for human rights". Donald Trump was elected, George W Bush was elected, Ronald Reagan was elected, all of whom trampled the rights of people in our own country and around the world.
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