For the discussion of all things philosophical.
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My country is a one trick pony. War, war, war. It's the only form of diplomacy we seem to know. If something needs fixing, then we bomb it. I hate being ashamed of my country. I wish I could feel pride in being an American. But we're no better than the Russians or Iranians.Maia wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2026 10:58 am There's no doubt that the Iranian regime is evil and should go, but the Americans hardly have a good track record when it comes to regime change. It's because they think they can do it quickly, then get out, but that never really works.
Predictably, Keir Starmer has hedged his bets, annoying our most important ally but in no way shielding us from any potential backlash.
I honestly don't know what to think about all this, and it's very tempting to just ignore it. I have a friend in Israel who has been emailing me and telling me how she and her family have been sheltering in their safe rooms for large chunks of the past two days. I hadn't even heard of safe rooms, but it takes no imagination to work out what they are.
For all our troubles here in the UK, and divisions, I still think we are very lucky, in most ways.
I don't think the USA is any worse, and in most ways, is actually a lot better, than any other imperial power throughout history.Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2026 11:52 amMy country is a one trick pony. War, war, war. It's the only form of diplomacy we seem to know. If something needs fixing, then we bomb it. I hate being ashamed of my country. I wish I could feel pride in being an American. But we're no better than the Russians or Iranians.Maia wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2026 10:58 am There's no doubt that the Iranian regime is evil and should go, but the Americans hardly have a good track record when it comes to regime change. It's because they think they can do it quickly, then get out, but that never really works.
Predictably, Keir Starmer has hedged his bets, annoying our most important ally but in no way shielding us from any potential backlash.
I honestly don't know what to think about all this, and it's very tempting to just ignore it. I have a friend in Israel who has been emailing me and telling me how she and her family have been sheltering in their safe rooms for large chunks of the past two days. I hadn't even heard of safe rooms, but it takes no imagination to work out what they are.
For all our troubles here in the UK, and divisions, I still think we are very lucky, in most ways.
I appreciate the sentiment. However, we could do better (ethically). A world full of nuclear weapons cannot afford military diplomacy and recklessness. Originally, our Constitution called for a vote from Congress in order to go to war. Now any single individual person who is elected President can instantly make that decision for all of us, whether we like it or not.Maia wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2026 12:04 pmI don't think the USA is any worse, and in most ways, is actually a lot better, than any other imperial power throughout history.Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2026 11:52 amMy country is a one trick pony. War, war, war. It's the only form of diplomacy we seem to know. If something needs fixing, then we bomb it. I hate being ashamed of my country. I wish I could feel pride in being an American. But we're no better than the Russians or Iranians.Maia wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2026 10:58 am There's no doubt that the Iranian regime is evil and should go, but the Americans hardly have a good track record when it comes to regime change. It's because they think they can do it quickly, then get out, but that never really works.
Predictably, Keir Starmer has hedged his bets, annoying our most important ally but in no way shielding us from any potential backlash.
I honestly don't know what to think about all this, and it's very tempting to just ignore it. I have a friend in Israel who has been emailing me and telling me how she and her family have been sheltering in their safe rooms for large chunks of the past two days. I hadn't even heard of safe rooms, but it takes no imagination to work out what they are.
For all our troubles here in the UK, and divisions, I still think we are very lucky, in most ways.
So is the conflict in Ukraine simply Russian realists defending themselves against NATO? Is the Iranian threat to create nuclear weapons simply Iranian realists defending themselves against Israel? Are we not hypocrites? Or does might make right?