I'd argue it's better to criticize all history. There aren't that many differences between Western and Eastern history. Oppression due to class, race, or religion are pretty much constants in most major cultures throughout time. While morality is relative, we can certainly learn from the mistakes of the past in order to at least attempt to avoid them in the future.
I can't totally agree with this, I mean some things are just plain wrong no matter who's doing them. Genocide is genocide, for example and that's all there is to it.
I'm not sugggesting we don't critique history.....that's half the value in studying it. I just think we need to be more realistic in our expectations of it. Oppression has been a constant in probably EVERY major culture. We need to understand the realities of the world in the past and not let them dampen our view of some incredible accomplishments and innovations.
No argument here. And I would agree that adversity does not imply moral superiority. It's a mistake often made by Palestinian apologists.
No one's saying it's "right," but that it's silly to focus on it at the expense of the rest of an era/culture/society's accomplishments and their influence on the present. During the sack of Carthage at the end of the Third Punic War, 445,000 citizens were killed (mostly civillians) with the remaining 50,000 or so survivors being sold off into slavery. Does that mean we should ignore the incredible influence and innovation that the Roman Empire had on the world? That we should view it as an evil destructive force? Or, as seems to be all the rage today, have sympathy for the Carthiginians and play up their accomplishments just because they "lost?"
Of course not, the Roman Empire has been an icon, for many reasons throughout history. Like I said I couldn't totally agree with what was said, I do agree with some of it though.
In other words....as long as he's not influenced by liberalism in any shape or manner. Oh no, that would undoubtedly lead him to becoming a Conservative and voting the straight Republican ticket while saluting the American flag.
