Subject: Free Tibet with Every Whale Saved!
Today as I was walking to work, I happened across a textbook example
of "just doesn't get it".
I read bumper stickers, and I collect examples of humorous (usually
because they're at war with each other) juxtapositions of bumper
stickers. The best examples generally appear on what I think of
as "Liberalmobiles": vehicles plastered with do-the-right-thing,
peace-and-justice messages whose understanding seems to be just
about as deep as a bumper sticker. My favorite so far is a pair
where the one on the left declared that "Poverty Is Violence" and
the one on the right abjured me to "Eschew Violence" (hey, I'm
ready!); but today's example runs a pretty close second.
On the left: "No one is free as long as others are oppressed".
On the right: "Tax the rich".
Um. Do we see a problem here?
Let's talk a little bit about "oppression". This year, oppression
is officially A Bad Thing. Some few years ago it wasn't: it was
perfectly okay to behave just about however you wanted toward the
natives, particularly if you were there to convert them to your
religion or system of government, or even if it was just convenient
in order to turn a profit. No one cared particularly hard. Today,
however, Civilized People don't do that.(*) That's "oppression",
and we're perfectly willing to impose embargoes and start wars in
order to make it stop.
(*) Except, of course, for our religion or system of government.
Which are, of course, the correct ones, the best ones, and
so everyone should follow them and anyone who disagrees is
hopelessly naive and needs to be educated, by any means
necessary.
Well, actually I agree: that is oppression, and it is bad and
we shouldn't do it. But what exactly is "oppression", so that we
can recognize it and know we shouldn't do it? Hrm. Let's see ...
My (admittedly antique) dictionary has as its first definition,
"The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or
unjust manner." That pretty much sums up my understanding of
what it means, so I'm prepared to accept that definition. Let's
try it on a couple of real-world examples to see what we get.
If you're "black" and I'm "white", I own you. Whatever profit
might accrue when you work belongs to me. Is that oppression?
Yup, that sounds like an unjust use of power to me.
Okay, now try this. If you're "rich" and I'm "the government",
I own you. Whatever profit might accrue when you work belongs
to me. Is that oppression?
No? Uh huh. I see.
Do me a favor. When you can explain coherently why using the law
to take away the fruit of someone's labor based on color is unjust,
and therefore oppression, but doing the same based on economic
status is not, come see me. I'd like to sell you Tibet.
-- Elton
--
Democracy, n.: a religion based on the belief that 51 people
are more moral than 49.