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Many people genuinely care about human rights and believe they are universal. I know that I do.

by hackuser 10y ago

tfcata 10y ago
Thank you for your kindness. But it's none of your business.
- hackuser 10y ago
  > it's none of your business This is a common argument used by those who want to oppress others; here's the flaw in it: I agree! It is none of my business and that's the whole point of liberty: Individuals should have self-determination; that is, freedom. Their choices and interests are none of my business, and they are none of their oppressors' business either. If they don't have the self-determination to control their own lives and express their own interests, then often there isn't much they can do to get it; their oppressors hold the power. That's when other people have a responsibility not to close their eyes to oppression but to do something about it. The goal is not to tell the oppressed what to do, but to give them the freedom to decide and act for themselves. I know I have my self-determination and freedom because of the efforts and sacrifices generations of others have made for me; millions have paid with their lives and their fortunes; more gave up careers, went to jail, suffered ostracism, torture and worse; generations made it their jobs to make laws, creating institutions and more to ensure I have my freedom today. Is my response that it is none of their business? Or do I have a share of the work to do?
  - powerapple 10y ago
    people care as long as they are not losing anything. that's how Trump won.
    - hackuser 10y ago
      > people care as long as they are not losing anything That's certainly true of some people, but note all the people throughout history (e.g., in my prior comment) who have made great sacrifices for it. If nobody was willing to sacrifice, there would be no freedom or democracy today.
eli_gottlieb 10y ago
Thank you for your kindness, no ifs, ands, or buts.
- hackuser 10y ago
  Thank you. To be clear, it's not out of kindness; it's a responsibility and a necessity. It's even basic evolutionary psychology: I want my genes to survive, and they are much more likely to survive in a world of human rights than the pre-modern one of nationalism and might-makes-right.

Many people genuinely care about human rights and believe they are universal. I know that I do.

tfcata 10y ago

Thank you for your kindness. But it's none of your business.

hackuser 10y ago
> it's none of your business This is a common argument used by those who want to oppress others; here's the flaw in it: I agree! It is none of my business and that's the whole point of liberty: Individuals should have self-determination; that is, freedom. Their choices and interests are none of my business, and they are none of their oppressors' business either. If they don't have the self-determination to control their own lives and express their own interests, then often there isn't much they can do to get it; their oppressors hold the power. That's when other people have a responsibility not to close their eyes to oppression but to do something about it. The goal is not to tell the oppressed what to do, but to give them the freedom to decide and act for themselves. I know I have my self-determination and freedom because of the efforts and sacrifices generations of others have made for me; millions have paid with their lives and their fortunes; more gave up careers, went to jail, suffered ostracism, torture and worse; generations made it their jobs to make laws, creating institutions and more to ensure I have my freedom today. Is my response that it is none of their business? Or do I have a share of the work to do?
- powerapple 10y ago
  people care as long as they are not losing anything. that's how Trump won.
  - hackuser 10y ago
    > people care as long as they are not losing anything That's certainly true of some people, but note all the people throughout history (e.g., in my prior comment) who have made great sacrifices for it. If nobody was willing to sacrifice, there would be no freedom or democracy today.

eli_gottlieb 10y ago

Thank you for your kindness, no ifs, ands, or buts.

hackuser 10y ago
Thank you. To be clear, it's not out of kindness; it's a responsibility and a necessity. It's even basic evolutionary psychology: I want my genes to survive, and they are much more likely to survive in a world of human rights than the pre-modern one of nationalism and might-makes-right.