But yes, the democratic west should aim for weapon and capability parity. We just should not get on too high a moral horse so.
Even inasmuch as it annoys a lot of people who don't appreciate this perspective--they tend to overrate it as if it must equate to perfection, a nation without problems, etc.
Americans sure love "whatabout". Every time when pointed to their problems you would hear but look at China / Russia / etc.
>"rather magnificent piece of moral high ground"
I guess crusaders are not yet extinct
It annoys everyone because it's based on a false pretense.
In terms of morals, the US didn't turn up any better than the USSR, judging by how it acted when it became uncontested.
Books are being removed from classrooms and inconvenient history is being rewritten by the state in Florida and other states. However Florida’s governor seems to be eying a run at the White House.
It seems unlikely to succeed, but the unlikely has happened before.
We are very definitely better than them.
Hopefully soon more Americans realize how similar your country and China are, the differences are minor, not major.
So if you’re a Chinese citizen, go ahead and type out your name and where you live, along with a list of things you feel your government is wrong about.
The issue isn't that you aren't writing this post with no pause of concern.
The issue is that after writing it, and, presumably, comprehending what you, yourself wrote, you still harbor the delusion of maintaining some moral high ground (as are some other posters in this thread)
The US maintains a lot more freedoms for its citizens simply due to exerting vast military power to siphon resources from the entire planet (with exceptions to China/Russia, obviously). Otherwise, it's entirely unknown and hypothetical as to whether it would or could be a "shining beacon of democracy" as so many would like to believe it currently is (which it very well may be, compared to CCP/Russia, which is not a very high bar)
I think this is the perfect problem for you not us - to work that out. You're not gonna end where you think.
Stuck for an approach? Look at the 2015 Nobel prize in literature and try that in china then in the US.
Most guys try to gauge the relative stupidity or goodness of things by reading history, and getting some sense of the state of play from real people and facts.
For most of us belief alone isn't good enough.
No, just killed slightly less people (maybe) while chanting "they asked for it" and "we are the good guys" mantras.
No, you don't. You have an excellent propaganda and a totally chauvinistic attitude.
To put it simply, you are just biased because you can't see yourself from the outside.
Nothing againstvthe latter, thaz was quite necessary, bit entities as rich as the EU could offer the same thing to all people in need, right?
But freedom of speech, human rights, and climate change are areas where BRICS stands in a morally compromised position, relative to the West.
> BRICS stands in a morally compromised position, relative to the West.
So, specifically what did you mean by all that when compared the west to... what exactly, an economic pact of completely culturally different countries?
I find that self-assigned supremacy in matters of climate change to be somewhat contrary to the fact that the West had pushed all the dirty production to the so called "third world states" (some happen to be BRICS) while still remaining the largest consumer, and then when faces with practical issues, engaged in fracking and reopened the coal mines. Do you honestly think you are the only ones who are bothered?
This attitude is counterproductive and dangerous. I am legitimately scared when western folks start that superiority trope.
We should be looking into the a mirror, not greeting ourselves with the thoughts that there are worse places. This way inevitably leads down, not up, if we are talking "high moral"
Can I have more details please
>"I'll take the good old US"
I would choose the US as well. Because the US treats their own citizens better (at least for now). Not because it stands on "high moral ground" - it does not.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-03/bob-hawke-tiananman-c...
I love a lot about China, love Chinese people, but we have to be realistic about the differences in governance and its capacity for acts like this. We (non-Americans) are very lucky that the US became the world hegemon after WW2 and the sole superpower after the fall of the Soviet Union. For all its faults and mistakes, it usually recognizes them eventually and tries to improve over time. So, while it annoys me a bit that young Americans are so anti-US, it's a very healthy sign that there is so much criticism.