Comments on: Canadian Values

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:57:47 +0000

Mary, the most direct answer to your question is, I don’t know. I thought you were equating the US support of the mujahideen against the Soviets with the US putting the Taliban in power, and I was arguing that those two aren’t the same thing. I don’t have enough knowledge of what the linked author discusses to say whether he’s right or wrong.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:51:31 +0000

Rick, I think Godwin’s law is undermined by much longer threads to be found on this site with no Nazi references. But I like the reference.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:32:37 +0000

http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq2.html

See section VI.

Is this incorrect?

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:28:26 +0000

Nice one, rick.

By: rick

rick — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:19:27 +0000

I declare by Godwin's Law per #12 to have won this argument. sorry, ltbugaf ;)

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:46:41 +0000

Afghanistan people.

I am not saying all of them don’t. I am also not saying that everything that IS being done is not good. Obviously it is. Is everything positive though?

I believe they are entitled to basic rights too. However, does that mean we take their entire culture away from them? Is everything about their past wrong/bad/evil? I am not saying that is happening now. Am I saying it has happened in the past? You bet.

On your other note, I have heard differently. However, my 5 month old baby needs nursing, so I can’t prove it right now. Of course maybe I *am* wrong. But…hmmm, I don’t think so. At least not fully.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:26:07 +0000

“do they like everything we are doing there?”

Who are the “they” you’re referring to? The women who have basic rights again after years of Taliban oppression? The children who can go to school again? The citizens who can vote?

My discussion is about whether these so-called “Canadian” values are just Canadian, or whether they are something far more important and universal than a mere western cultural practice. I think they are. I think Afghans are entitled to these as basic, natural rights.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:23:25 +0000

"Well, letâ€s just say they supported the Taliban when they first went in." No, let's not. The US gave arms and money to some mujahideen groups during their struggle against the USSR, 1979-1989. That is quite different from saying the US helped or supported the Taliban in taking control of Afghanistan's government in 1996.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:20:30 +0000

you don’t think so? do they like everything we are doing there?

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:54:21 +0000

Mary, the fact that there are economic reasons for Western powers to meddle in Middle Eastern affairs is not really relevant to the question of whether Afghans do or do not deserve to have less poverty, more schools, voting rights, and so forth. And it also doesn’t have much to do with whether such “values” are good for all people or are just “Canadian” values.