>>My original point was to address the idea that we shouldn't be allowed to criticise a regime that commits abuses against people because our own nation did som

>>My original point was to address the idea that we shouldn't be allowed to criticise a regime that commits abuses against people because our own nation did something in the past. Not past, those nations that are lecturing on morals are themselves accused of far worse as we speak. Either way if you are a net beneficiary(which you obviously are, as you are a UK citizen) of your ancestors having did all this, you have NO moral rights to lecture others. Or pay reparations and then speak. >>I'm from the UK Honestly, I think you really should lecture your own countrymen on countless things you guys continue to do till date. Iraq/Afghanistan is a strong example, but what happened after Arab Spring is another one. Whole countries flattened to the ground, because your prime minister apparently doesn't have good english reading/comprehension skills to read a simple report about the presence/absence of weapons in Iraq. And for heaven's sake you are a democracy, which means you(the people) and only you(the people) are responsible for all the mess your government does(in your name). Of all the ills that plague the world, not having the independence to drink beer for three hours isn't even in the vicinity of destroying whole countries. So please.