ThailandUltras wrote:
So again I'll ask the Americans here.Are you going to petition the US Navy to stop supporting the same "regime" that is sponsoring the Bahrain 13 and demand that the US 5th Fleet be relocated out of Bahrain or is it just Prince Nasser and his triathletes that has got you all hot and bothered.
Well, I find it more rational to petition my representatives in civilian government rather than "petitioning the US Navy" but, rather our elected representatives in government. But yes, I generally try to support politicians who don't "enable" repressive regimes in the Middle East (or elsewhere). Khashoggi, etc. Though that's rather difficult since they're few, and it's an extremely difficult position to unwind. (As we're learning right now.)
There's some risk of appearing sanctimonious or "on a high horse" as a poster put it. But if we all waited until we and our governments were pure-as-driven-snow virtuous before we dared criticize others, it'd be pretty hard to expose evil to the light of day. We do what we can, with what influence we have.
And I'm not on a high horse. If I were an up-and-coming cyclist and Bahrain-Merida offered me a contract, I might take that. It could change my whole life. But I hope I'd be open-eyed enough to acknowledge I might be participating in propaganda.
There's a possibility we're being used. That's worth acknowledging, despite our imperfections.
There's also a possibility that by admitting some participation in modern sport the attempt at propaganda might ultimately backfire on the regime in the long term. I hope that's the case.