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Post by Jaga on Nov 19, 2005 11:26:14 GMT -7
In Poland we have a phrase:
"ludzie sa rowni ale niektorzy sa rowniejsi" which translates as like:
some people are equal but some others are "more equal"
what do you think. Do superpowers have more rights but also... more responsibilities? Who are these superpowers now? Do we have some new superpowers while some other are gone?
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Post by jimpres on Nov 19, 2005 15:31:37 GMT -7
Jaga,
Superpowers come and go as history will atest to. Poland had its day, Germany had two days, France, England all were superpowers at a given time in history utilizing the technology at hand. But mostly it was to colonize other weaker countries. Hopfully most of that has stopped and the world map can remaing stationary for a long time. Yes, I think the US is a superpower not, Russian is not, China will be in the future. Time will tell. Nadzeje bede w cemetarz..........
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Post by Jaga on Nov 19, 2005 16:49:57 GMT -7
Jaga, Superpowers come and go as history will atest to. Poland had its day, Germany had two days, France, England all were superpowers at a given time in history utilizing the technology at hand. But mostly it was to colonize other weaker countries. Hopfully most of that has stopped and the world map can remaing stationary for a long time. Yes, I think the US is a superpower not, Russian is not, China will be in the future. Time will tell. Nadzeje bede w cemetarz.......... Hi Jim, it is so interesting that so many things changed during one lifetime, like a fall of Soviet empire and possible buildup of Chinese
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Post by jimpres on Nov 19, 2005 18:28:18 GMT -7
Jaga,
You are exactly right. Whatever time you slice you have the same thing occuring rise and fall of nations. The Romans, Napolean, Hitler, Russia, China. The world is a pretty volital place currently with people prepared to kill themselves for a cause. Lets hope it passes in our lifetime.
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piwo
Citizen of the World
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Posts: 1,189
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Post by piwo on Nov 21, 2005 14:54:53 GMT -7
Well, this one looks fairly safe. Perhaps I’ll chime in.
It may only be semantics to some, but I believe it to be important: Governments have no rights, they only have powers. Some derive their power by force, others by consent of the people. Once a power has been given, all will fight fiercely not to give it back. Once a "right" of the people has been surrendered, it also is virtually impossible to recover.
That superpowers seem to "have more rights", really amounts to the deference other countries will pay them out of fear: economic (aid or privileged trade) or military. It's the same fear that for the first time in a generation people on this continent are feeling watching the Chinese economy boom. After all, there are only so many natural resources out there and how long can the earth sustain two or three huge, vibrant economies? Some economy will garner the lions share of resources (America has been the dubious holder of this title for many years) and with it a certain amount of deference from the rest of the world. Only time will tell who that will be.
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