I guess that's where we diverge. I don't see working against, in this example, imperialism while living in an imperialistic state to be akin to preaching vegeta

I guess that's where we diverge. I don't see working against, in this example, imperialism while living in an imperialistic state to be akin to preaching vegetarianism while eating meat. You don't have the same choice you do with meat, to simultaneously (1) live in a free society (2) work against imperialism. Eating meat, in my "strawman" is acceptance, or rationalization, of the evil once one is aware.