Comment on So about that girls school in Iran targeted by the Trump administration... by saarnok

Parent Post: So about that girls school in Iran targeted by the Trump administration... · In Reply To

saarnok · 3/24/2026, 8:19:56 PM · permalink

The question is: Does your conception of good fit other people's conception of good?  
  
Did you ever read the "Dune" series? He explores the way "bad" people are made, and it's pretty compelling.  
  
I grew up in a religious environment that considered everyone else to be bad people, not by their own fault, but bad nonetheless. That particular example isn't particularly toxic as it still considered everyone else to be innocent victims (sort of) of evil influence, but among many groups, being outside the group classifies you as cattle or less.  
  
Also, the "moral" compass of some people is essentially antithetical to Western sensibilities. Honor killings, beatings, stoning, acid attacks and countless other responses to female offenses such as walking, talking, or being sexually assaulted are just standard among some groups of Muslims.  
  
I'll give you an example to contrast with many people you've probably known. I had a fuzzy little dwarf cat who would immediately go to any human to try to be petted and cuddled. When he saw people on the other side of the road he went to them, just as he would've anyone at my house. The neighbor bent down and petted him for a bit, then needed to go; went back to his pickup truck and without a second thought drove off as that cat tried to continue to get his attention. Back tire of the truck got him. He lived long enough to run thirty feet or so, trying to get back home before he dropped dead.  
  
That little fuzzball was simply made out of love. There wasn't a trace of hostility in him or the slightest idea that any human would ever hurt him or allow him to be hurt.  
  
And, there's a bunch of people. Millions upon millions who'd gleefully and as painfully as possible kill that little fuzzball, not just because it would hurt me, but especially because it would hurt him.  
  
I overheard a couple of Mexican girls laughing about how one of their brothers burned a puppy to death in a wheelbarrow with gasoline after cutting it's paws off so it wouldn't jump out.  
  
People you know, face to face in person would laugh at both those stories.  
  
Iranian Muslims would sacrifice their daughters in a hot second to cause problems for "The Great Satan" and much more quickly even sacrifice someone else's daughter.  
  
Oh, they are "good", they're very very "good". In fact they'd count your unwillingness to sacrifice in such a way an indication that you don't believe in your own goodness.  
  
The founders of the OSS/CIA were so good they'd lie, cheat, steal, murder, torture, poison, betray... you name it: In the service of the "good" they were trying to accomplish. And they patted themselves on the back that nice people like you didn't need to take the heat for all the "good" they did on your behalf.  
  
They understand your moral compass. You don't understand theirs.  
  
You and I have notions of "good" that are in near perfect overlap. Our notions of good and other cultures doesn't overlap so well.

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wfgopack · 3/25/2026, 1:55:32 PM · permalink

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saarnok · 3/26/2026, 12:53:54 AM · permalink

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wfgopack · 3/26/2026, 1:57:52 AM · permalink

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saarnok · 3/26/2026, 2:23:03 AM · permalink

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wfgopack · 3/26/2026, 2:14:43 PM · permalink

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