• Initiateofthevoid@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 hours ago

    “I was once willing to give my life for what I believed my country stood for” [emphasis mine]

    Past tense. They did not say they will defend colonialism, racism, or genocide with their lives. They said they believed their country stood for different things, and now they know differently.

    This isn’t about respect or civility. It’s about productivity and purpose. I’m not telling you to play nice. I’m asking you to try to help people understand your point of view when they’re clearly in the process of changing their mind about how the world works. It’s an opportunity to spread awareness and you’re wasting it on snark and pointless cynicism.

    • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
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      6 hours ago

      You must have interpreted the image differently because to me it very much sounds like they’re saying things used to be good and now the country became bad. In fact, that’s the word being used.

      And, frankly, I’m tired of people singing praises of the good old days when they melted the skin off of children in Cambodia and sent death squads to South America. I don’t care what they think they were fighting for, the onus of not loving genocide is on them.

      • Initiateofthevoid@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        6 hours ago

        I don’t interpet it differently.

        I am telling you that as they realize things are currently bad, you can help them realize the ways in which things have always been bad. That the fact that current affairs are even possible suggests a progression of events leading up to this, rather than a sudden and reversible shift in political paradigms.

        The whole point is that they don’t know what you know. If you want them to know what you know, help them understand it.

        If instead you want people to continue believing what they currently believe, than yes, cynicism and snark is the way to go. Thanks for the contribution.

        • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
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          6 hours ago

          Alright, I’ll follow your lead and inform people the United States has always stood for those things, but also not tell anyone that the United States stands for those things cause they might get mad and become even more racist.

          • Initiateofthevoid@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            6 hours ago

            If instead you want people to continue believing what they currently believe, than yes, cynicism and snark is the way to go. Thanks for the contribution.