re: #117 subsailor68

Morning all! I hope everyone’s having a great day.

On the issue of cultural relativism, I remember a story (paraphrased - guess I could find a link) about a young Royal Navy lieutenant sent to treat with a native king in the South Pacific. During the talks, the king noted that:

“You do understand that in my culture we eat people.”

The young lieutenant replied:

“Yes your majesty. But you should know that in my culture we shoot people who eat people.”

I believe that ended the practice of cannibalism - at least on that island.

Same here, it seems to me. Democracy and the rule of law, individual freedom, and respect for others is a universal “culture”, and superior to many others.

The version I’ve heard has to do with suttee, and an English officer commenting that it is British tradition to hang men who burn a woman alive. Same basic concept.

Unfortunately, geopolitics often drives nations, including our own, to make buddies with people whose behavior we would not like to be associated with.