My discussion with a Latin American revolutionary - your reflections?

Question

1) Before the internet, I spoke with a Latin American revolutionary--who sacrificed most of his life to promoting what he thought was social justice in his country. He said, "You know, I've lived in the U.S. for 10 years, and my conclusion is that people here would not sacrifice their lives if they thought their country had reneged on its original values." I thought for a moment, and into my head popped a response, "I can tell you why," (it was just a gut feeling). Americans are raised to think we are 'special.' If you are 'special' you will let the next person sacrifice his life". He looked at me, and a lightbulb went off in his head. "Exactly!" he said, as though I had understood something profound. It wasn't. It was just a thought. Which leads me to item 2) With the internet, there is a safe way to complain--operate a so-called 'activist' blog? What a great way to seem daring and be perfectly safe. But if the stakes were higher, like in China? Who would be brave then?

Someone who responds with such a thoughtless remark by sarcastically using the term 'Mr. Thoughtful' seems to me someone who is rather thoughtless. And what in my question suggested that I was not in the military? I suggest you study what is meant by 'critical thinking.'

I would not categorize your remark as thoughtless since I am not sure what your definition of the word 'liberal' is or whether you were indirectly labeling me with that appellation. Again, a presumptive remark with little thought behind it. I was not questioning the military. I was questioning the motivation of bloggers.

Answer 1

My husband is Latin American and fled his country 36 years ago due to the uprising of the political coup. Many people were killed and lots of women still to this day protest once a year to get answers as to why their children were murdered by the government......
I agree with you in your opinion on the "special" thought. It is however in North America a lot of persons think their "special". They are too protected and life is easy for us. I do believe that if you sent a family to leave under the conditions that some of the world live, they would prefer to come back to the "special" life.
There is nothing wrong with wanting the "special" life, we all deserve to live freely, healthy and justly. Just extend that thought when you think of others.

My husbands uncle was one of the many that were murdered due to their political status. This is why most of his immediate family fled, they fled to live.....

Answer 2

I actually kind of agree. I think that mentality also has something to do with the apathy we feel toward politics in general which, in turn, i suppose affects our willingness to engage in actual political activism (as opposed to blogosphere or pop politics). We are trained to think we're special, but slowly we come to the revelation that our individual votes don't matter a whole lot (I'm not saying we shouldn't vote or anything like that, but I do think a very cogent argument could be made that our individual votes are not important). So slowly we become convinced our participation doesn't matter--but we still cling to that sense of "special"--and the combination somehow leaves us convinced that we are above the "average" citizen and, in a sense, too good for politics. Let's think about the number of times we've heard someone say they are "fed up" with the system, that it's obviously not working, just because a result didn't go his or her way. I would be willing to bet the majority of Americans consider themselves more politically informed than the "average" American. The 'ignorant masses' are an easy scapegoat--especially for someone as special as you or me ;)

Answer 3

As a soldier (for 20 years), I never thought of myself as special. If any of the other miltary members (active and retired) read this question, they'll answer the same as me. We did it for a reason that defies the ability of many liberals to understand, simply a love and respect for our country. God, I know how liberals hate it when they hear that.

Answer 4

I actually sort of see where you are going with this question. But, it's a question you can only ask yourself.

Would I fight for my liberty with the threat of imprisonment and bodily harm to both myself and my family hanging over my head. Yes or No is your own decision, and you can't assume you know what another person's answer is.

It's a really scary question to ask, and I hope I'm never forced to ask it.

Answer 5

hey, Jimmy, my father's best friend spent two tours in Vietnam and he hates Bush and the Republican party with a passion because of his time in Vietnam. he doesn't want to ever see any other kid go through what he had to go through. i guess that makes him a liberal. but wait, he's a soldier too...

my dad still thanks God for the perforated eardrum that kept him out of the Mekong, and votes Democrat. he's a better Christian than somebody like Bush who drops God's name every chance he gets while completely ignoring the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, or Franklin Graham who stands beneath bright lights with pancake make-up on his face and urges us to vote for a rich white man who orders more young men poured into a country whose only crime was threatening our economic interests.

it seems to me like the people who are most keen to go to war are the people who never experienced it firsthand or will ever suffer from it directly, like George W. Bush, Condoleeza Rice, and Dick Cheney.

Answer 6

,Not you Mr. Thoughtful Thank God we have a military edit I would bet the farm YOU were never in the military Mr. Thoughtful!Jimmy thank you for your service and you are right they can't understand love for your country ,career man good show!

Answer 7

Communists are evil