“Them” Eyeranians can’t treat their women or gays with respect. “Them” Eyeranians do not share our Western values based on Enlightenment principles. Therefore, “them” Eyeranians are both politically and morally inferior to “us,” the rational Westerners.
So naturally, whatever “we” do is at least marginally better than anything those Eyeranians ever could do. Similarly, our worst decisions are nothing compared to the mistakes “they” make. Our superior values ensure that our actions are going to be superior as well
Clearly them Iranians have no sense of human dignity. Clearly they hate freedom, as well as the universal principles on which human rights are based. Clearly they are hellbent on spreading terror, violence, and misery throughout the globe. Clearly they are a rising storm of bloodthirsty Nazis who threaten the existence of Jews everywhere.
But let’s be a little bit more liberal – a little bit more “respectable.” Ah yes, now we avoid the issue of collective responsibility and merely say that them Eyeranians are poor people oppressed by their government. Now the Eyeranian people have become the victims. Now we speak with a politically correct language. Now we’re bleeding hearts. Now we can go back to shopping and self-absorbtion.
So now, instead of just criticizing “them Eyeranians,” we can also criticize Americans and their leaders. Indeed, are there not striking paralells between the two governments? After all, both have theocratic and dictatorial tendencies do they not? So why the hostility? Why not just engage these Eyeranians and try to make some peace?
This is the typical liberal argument, even though it”s not an argument at all; it’s much more similar to a whining complaint than an actual policy disagreement. To them, Iran is a side issue that should take a backseat to the “more important” issues relating to gays, abortion, and stem cell research. Forget about Iran; gay marriage is so much more modern and relevant.
We disagree. We say that war with Iran is the foremost issue facing the progressive left. Indeed, if war with Iran begins, we can forget about progressive solutions to education and healthcare. There won’t be any money left for those things and there will probably be a draft. So the fate of those Eyeranians isn’t the only thing that hangs in the balance. There’s much more at stake.
