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Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague
There are actually some people who are blurring this line, and it's tempting to lump them into a monolith. I think you're right, generally. But there are clear trends towards people who I guess would also describe themselves being much more concerned about transgressions of this sort from people who come from privileged backgrounds. There's really a startling lack of outrage over the treatment of women, gays and secularists in certain places worldwide, and there are a number of explanations for that.
For example, let's say I'm an American, who is particularly concerned with American involvement in the Middle East. I spend a ton of energy criticizing US foreign policy and the actions of the US military, and comparatively little energy talking about the practices of America's enemies, or other countries. My response might be, "Of course I'm focused on what the USA is doing wrong. I'm an American, I want to focus on problems WE'RE causing". People often take this line in discussing Chomsky.
From where I sit, that's an overly nationalistic perspective, but I can see the appeal. Still, I can't help but be frustrated by the lack of outrage expressed over, for example, the rape of thousands of women by ISIS, or the torture of Raif Badawi. You'd be right to say that no one in their right mind thinks these things are anything other than a horror, but the degree to which people actually express any concern at all over this behaviour pales in comparison to the poaching of a lion last year. I think there are probably a number of reasons for this, too.
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I think it speaks to the fact that we hold higher standards for ourselves than we do others, which is probably a tad racist and patronizing.
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Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Yes, there's more to be done. On sexism. And violence. And corruption. And every other human failing that will never be eradicated. But the left too often let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Shouldn't we consider why it is that women are treated better in the West than elsewhere in the world, if only so we can recognize what we're doing right and keep doing it?
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Well it seems to me that part of what we're doing right is dismantling patriarchy and colonialism, so continuing to root it out in even it's most benign forms is probably more constructive than sitting here and patting ourselves on the backs. I do get what you're saying though, in that there's a concern that in focusing too much on the obscure stuff, we're overlooking and allowing the more extremist elements to creep back into our society.