Let's talk about countries.
Call the nation Wlhud (We Live Here You Don’t).
Imagine if you will Wlhud has repeatedly attacked and periodically invaded other countries. These are not defensive attacks. These attacks are attempts at regime change, attempts to shut down various lawful activities, proxy battles between Wlhud and Tioc (This Is Our Country). Sometimes these attacks are resource grabs because Wlhud is big enough, strong enough and mean enough to just go in and try to take it.
Tioc defends its way of life and that of its allies. Tioc insists there is nothing wrong with the way people in its country and other places are living. Tioc also says invading to grab resources, regime change and so far is plainly wrong.
Consider also that Wlhud has broken more treaties than any other country in the world.
Whoops. Got that backward.
Tioc is the one doing the attacks. Wlhud is the other side.
Ah crap. I had it right the first time.
Sheet. Maybe it is reversed.
Eh.
The leaders of Wlhud make sure none of the leaders’ family members get involved in combat. If a family member accidentally winds up in the military, strings are pulled to make sure Family Guy is a REMF (rear echelon mother fucker) in no danger whatsoever.
Meanwhile, Tioc makes sure to take the poor, those with limited prospects, sometimes criminals and put them in the military. Yes, some to most of Tioc’s forces are volunteers and joined because they actually wanted to, for whatever reason. Still, Hobson’s Choice ain’t a choice at all.
Hang on. Did I get that one backward, too? Y’all let me know.
Wlhud goes out and kills civilians and children in other countries. Collateral damage. It happens. Wlhud excuses this as just a cost of war and it was nothing personal.
Homes are bombed into dust. Hospitals are shattered. Infrastructure is demolished and vital supplies like water are cut off, often poisoned and so forth. Crops are razed before harvest. Wlhud said this demoralizes the enemy and is a quick path to victory.
No, sorry. That is what Tioc does. I am sure of it.
Meanwhile, Tioc oppresses its citizens, violates basic human rights and insists it is a paragon of virtue. Any criticism of how citizens are treated are shouted down, loudly and repeatedly, with plenty of finger-pointing at the accuser’s own record of human rights violations.
Tioc citizens died because they cannot get the medicare care they need. They go hungry sometimes. Relief is often shanghaied and dumped into the leaders’ pockets and their friends. This is either covered up or a token arrest is made, usually someone who offended the leadership. An example is made and the leaders roundly back slap each other and tell citizens what a good job they are doing.
Yanno what? I believe that is what Wlhud does.
Arg.
Confused yet? Why? It’s very simple.
Do this -
Strip away the country’s name and its geographic location. Remove identifiers.
Now look at the records I mention above. Go with JUST what that country does and forget the name and location.
Sheer numbers. Straight numbers. Only numbers. No identifiers.
Now you tell me, which country is which.
You can’t.
You tell me children and civilians are dying and it just happens. Really. Bombs go off on your community and you lose family members, will you still say "it just happens?" Will you be as nonchalant when the water you drink is fouled and poisonous? NIMBY much? Why?
