'Gen. Butt Naked,' Liberian Ex-Rebel Leader, Confesses to Murdering Thousands is a very disturbing story. Here's an excerpt: Many posters on this forum believe in moral equivalency. They believe that all cultures are equally good and that no one should speak against any other culture. Items like this reinforce my belief that some belief systems are better than others. No belief system that supports murdering innocent children to eat their hearts is going to get my approval.
Some posters on this forum believe in moral supremacy. They believe that only one culture is good and that no other culture should be allowed.
It's part of the sad story of Liberia, although I would hesitate to call devil worship a culture, as Will has implied.
I just have to quote guerilla here: You see, it would be wrong for you to take action to make the world a better place, because you are no better than General Butt Naked is. His religion (devil worship) and his culture (tribalism) are no better or worse than yours. It's all the same. There are no good guys, there are no bad guys. There is no right, there is no wrong. All we can morally do is wait until sweet merciful death overtakes us.
I do think you're reading what he posted incorrectly. True individual liberty does not allow for harm of others, of course there are cases when someone such as 'General Butt Naked' had he been in the US, is NOT practicing individual liberty, in which case all gloves are off. Sort of like saying you can do drugs in your own house as long as you do not harm someone. However if someone breaks into your house of course I am in full support of you beating their ass.
Thank you. The right to defend oneself from attack is part of individual liberty. This guy is a class "A" nutjob and has committed heinous crimes. However, I refuse the idea that his actions represent all tribal societies, or that his actions in some way provide the impetus to reform entire cultures upon "Will.Spencer's ideal". Taking it away from the individual and projecting it onto a group is one way to depersonalize the response. Those damn muslims/asians/africans/tribesmen/jews/arabs/germans/commies/americans/capitalists/liberals/soviets etc. etc.
Yeah, I'm sure that General Butt Naked is just a loon who came up with these ideas all on his own. I'm sure he killed all 20,000 people all by himself. No, let's not be silly. This guy was just a figurehead for his religion and his culture. He was a "General", he led an entire Army of people who thought just like him. They weren't an army of "Class A nutjobs" -- they were a group of people who shared a similar value system -- which is what we call a "culture".
Strawman. Strawman. And what is that religion, and what is that culture? You lead with another strawman. I'm happy to know that you have now classified RP supporters as a culture. Kudos to you.
The real problem Will is that you used FoxNews as a source....I'm surprised this bunch even bothered reading and posting a response.
Isn't foxnews where they all go to get their news? I don't ever hear them complain about an AP article at msnbc or cnn.... The fact that this guy has come out to admit all the evil he and others did is fascinating. How often do people admit what they did in the past?
not often enough...even more amazing is that this guy knows he could be put to death, but sees forgiveness and reconciliation as the true way. That is fascinating.
That appears to be a result of his conversion to Christianity. He seems perfectly comfortable with the idea that he might soon meet God.