This is obviously Cold War era propaganda, but I feel it’s important to engage with it on its own merits.
First of all, two wrongs don’t make a right. Exploitation is exploitation. We (the ‘west’) did a lot of harm in developing countries all over the world, and we’ve never dealt seriously with that history.
Secondly, we managed to sweep all of that mostly under the rug because we convinced ourselves we weren’t as bad as the other guys. That may even be true. But is that really the bar we want to set for ourselves? If you are the kind of liberal (non-derogatory) that actually believes in liberal democracy, surely people in other countries deserve that consideration, those “inalienable rights”, as well?
I know it’s trendy to be all realpolitik and behave like no one ever actually believed in any of the enlightenment ideals and that it was all a cover for imperialism, but I know it’s not really true. I know you guys are out there. Fight for what you say you believe in.
Third, we’re on the edge of the precipice, getting ready to repeat all the mistakes of generations past. This is transparent propaganda, but it’s also a warning across time and space. Don’t you fucking do it again.
And the other is the 51st state, running American nukes and subs that will only keep working if the U.S. keeps the support contract going.
NGL here, if the U.S. turns hostile, we’re in deep shit.