US Infects Guatemalans With Syphilis During 1940s Experiments

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by saden1

JoeRedskins, you write a lot but I don't think you grasped anything that I wrote so let me break it down for you:

You write a lot too my friend and you digress even more. Before addressing your wonderful little list, here is what I have understood your points to be and the points I have been contesting:

(1) Americans always qualify their apologies – Gosh, we did wrong but others have been worse;

(2) Other countries have done a better job of self-improvement;

(3) China’s civil rights situation is comparable to the US;

(4) And, of course:

Originally Posted by saden1

America was born out of sin, into sin and and will die in sin. I am quite tired of people making indirect apologies for it and using deflection. America doesn't need defending nor does it deserve defending.

As to these:

(1) Maybe - I would disagree but you’re entitled to your opinion. Further, I see no proof of it in any of your arguments. I will say that, when people cite to our errors or use specific instances of wrong to assert that US government is comparable to the Nazis, I take offense and will always highlight the fundamental differences between the US and the seductive dehumanizing that fascism (and communism) promotes. If you consider this as qualifying an apology, I guess - I don’t see it that way.

(2) Again, as a matter of opinion, I disagree and see no persuasive proof in any of your supporting arguments. In the last 250 years, the US has transformed itself significantly. Further, unlike Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, the US’s transformation occurred from within rather than being imposed by a foreign power.

(3) See my response to your list. Your defense of China’s human rights situation as comparable to that of the US is either obtuse or ignorant.

(4) It was, it exists so, and will – but hopefully not for many hundreds of years. To prevent its death, it both needs and deserves defending. When people choose to highlight its wrongs and assert it is not worth defending, it is appropriate to highlight the US’s good works and ask that the “entire body of work” be fairly assessed - both good and ill. In the US’s case, in our short flawed existence, and in my opinion, that body of work shows a country that has done more to promote, provide and protect individual liberties and the rule of law than any other through history.

You appear to disagree. In my humble opinion, however, your arguments have been off point, unpersuasive and fail to refute this simple assertion.