Olympics: Apology for N Korea in wrong flag row

[Stefanrsb]

that is why NATO gets involved to keep the world peaceful.

NATO = legal terrorism.

[SugarD]

Quit with the politics discussion and flaming, and get back on topic unless you want this closed.

Did all of you forget the agreement that was made to keep this board open? If people can't handle it, then maybe it needs to go away again...

[Gandalf]

If communist nations have won against democratic nations in the world war, then the situation might have been the opposite.

Could you please say how Communism (not to be confused with Socialism) is not democratic?

[Patton]

NATO gets involved to keep the world peaceful

No it doesn't. All NATO does is pressure others into complying with their vision of world order.

[JDC]

No it doesn't. All NATO does is pressure others into complying with their vision of world order.

What is your idea of a peaceful world then, rather than one where NATO helps facilitate order?

[Gandalf]

What is your idea of a peaceful world then, rather than one where NATO helps facilitate order?

One where countries are free to have their own form of government, and where conflicts are solved by respecting each other instead of who has the biggest penis rockets.

[JDC]

who has the biggest penis

Knowing the human race, this will probably never change.

But that aside,

One where countries are free to have their own form of government, and where conflicts are solved by respecting each other instead of who has the biggest rockets.

Would this mean that countries would be free to have dictatorships and any form of government that would put its own self-interest above prioritizing the maximization of its citizens' public good? (i.e. the current NoKor system)

[Gandalf]

Knowing the human race, this will probably never change.

But that aside,

Would this mean that countries would be free to have dictatorships and any form of government that would put its own self-interest above prioritizing the maximization of its citizens' public good? (i.e. the current NoKor system)

A country has the right to have its own form of government.
Is Saudi-Arabia any better as North Korea when looked at objectively?
Is China any better?
Is the USA any better?
Is Zimbabwe any better?

Do you really believe your own government puts the public good above their own interests ?

The public good is determined by the government, so public good is basicly their self-interest.
Public good is not public well-being. Nor is public good freedom. Public good is what is perceived by citizens as the condition they wish to live in.

[SugarD]

Public good is what is perceived by citizens as the condition they wish to live in.

That is a very good point. What's accepted by society is what determines what people think should and shouldn't be there, whether they have control over it or not.

If others could respect that, and only attempt to make changes where something is truly wrong, rather than a differing opinion, then this world would be a much better place with many less wars and confusion.

But alas, we live in a world that is far from perfect, however seeing everyone, including North Korea, at the Olympics shows that we are capable, as one race, to unite despite our differences...and although this would be better than categorizing ourselves in the world into different countries or places if it could happen every day, people do, (fortunately and unfortunately), have pride in their own country due to what they believe it has accomplished, judged by society and what it has accepted. For this, I cannot blame North Korea for being insulted by the wrong flag being shown. Whether it was their biggest enemy, or just a random country's flag, it's still insulting because they feel they were misrepresented. North Korea and South Korea split because they didn't agree with one another in society. Showing the other's flag to represent them is only a painful and angry reminder of that.

[JayL]

Would this mean that countries would be free to have dictatorships and any form of government that would put its own self-interest above prioritizing the maximization of its citizens' public good? (i.e. the current NoKor system)

None of the views put forth by media about lack of satisfaction with non-USA-model governments are accurate. In ANY country, if there is an unsatisfied majority, there would be no nuclear bombs, no foreign powers or anything to stop the people's revolt.