I am quite frightened by the Chinese government’s actions, but it’s evident that if we are going to use moral authority the US must actually demonstrate we deserve it.
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1373289560038330368
Addressing the Chinese government threat means - in part - pulling back on the legacy of immoral and destructive wars and subversions of democracy our foreign policy establishment loves.
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1373289964595728386?s=20
The question isn’t whether the US is morally good. The question is whether the world operates according to US norms or Chinese government norms. Right now a good chunk of the world sees no difference, for legitimate reasons.
The Chinese government cynically uses the flaws of the US to mask its own aggressive choices, and its current hostile posture with Taiwan, Australia, the UK, India, Japan, Vietnam, etc. But the flaws are real, serious, and fixable.
Yes, JFK argued that the common defense required making our institutions work for everyone. The question for Americans is whether we have a common identity and want to make our institutions function for all of us.
https://twitter.com/ryangrim/status/1373311167649755149?s=20
The idea of patriotism in service of making a common society through our political institutions is at odds with the current dominant political ideology of focusing on our differences. bostonreview.net/archives/BR28.…
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