• ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    Why do you think things need a more complex explanation?
    Do you really feel like this Iran incursion is somehow significant feeling compared to Iraq or Afghanistan?
    Do you actually think that the hegemonic status of the US really enters into the consideration of most people, to say nothing of having a significant impact on their emotions? Do you think an awareness of that would actually make people feel better?

    • GuyIncognito@lemmy.ca
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      18 hours ago

      Because the explanation is more complex. Things aren’t the way they are for no reason, there’s historical context and theoretical frameworks that allow you to understand how and why the world came to be as it is, and how it is likely to change. If you understand this, then you also know not only that things are not going to be this way forever, you know that the world is changing right now. That we are closer to liberation than you think.

      Knowledge is power, and understanding the world also means that you are more able to change it.

      Do you really feel like this Iran incursion is somehow significant feeling compared to Iraq or Afghanistan?

      The Iran situation is more significant than Iraq or Afghanistan, because Iran is going to win. This is a far worse situation for the United States government than both Iraq and Afghanistan combined, because it is breaking their aura of invincibility. They aren’t being slowly exhausted in a guerilla war, they’re being struck both militarily and economically by a country they haven’t even invaded, and will not be able to invade.

      Do you actually think that the hegemonic status of the US really enters into the consideration of most people, to say nothing of having a significant impact on their emotions? Do you think an awareness of that would actually make people feel better?

      You’re mixing up what is and what should be. No, most Americans don’t particularly care about the world outside their borders. If people understood that the power of the US government, of Donald Trump and his cronies, was based on American global hegemony - on the empire - and they further understood that that hegemony was crumbling and is indeed at a breaking point, they would understand that there is plenty reason to be hopeful.

      Your oppressors, who are also the world’s oppressors, are being defeated! They depend both at home and abroad on the illusion of invincibility and the illusion that nothing will ever change. Those illusions are more broken today than they were yesterday, and were more broken yesterday than the day before. In the coming weeks and months, they will continue to break.

      • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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        14 hours ago

        I think you’re gravely exaggerating the significance of the iran war we currently have. The resources brought to force and the scale of losses are miniscule, and there’s no grounds to even say what “winning” is for either side.

        That’s entirely aside from the point though. You’re arguing the a crack in the facade of hegemony is more responsible for emotional distress than a stark reminder that your next door neighbors are horrible bigots. That people should be comforted that people they don’t know will lose power.
        Will Trump losing power make my neighbor not think we should hang trans people?
        Will a loss of US influence in global affairs cause us to build a social safety net?
        Will embarrassing the US military spur a wave of environmental reforms?

        The answer is “no”, because why would it?
        I think you’re thinking about global politics a lot, and assuming it must be on everyone else’s mind as well.
        I don’t think you actually know why people are exhausted and depressed, and you sure as shit don’t know what would improve that.