1youngshine on Nostr: Yes true they were developed in ways but the western obsession with industry has ...
Yes true they were developed in ways but the western obsession with industry has raised the standard of living for virtually everyone on the planet, including them. Maybe the Aztecs would have done that themselves too if left alone, who knows, maybe not also.
To talk of morals - the Aztecs were arguably more brutal to other local tribes than the Westerners were to them (human sacrifice, ritual war, honour killing rather than forgiveness etc). To draw the moral line at the arrival of the Westerners is arbitrary and hypocritical. From an Aztec perspective, they were virtually played at their own game, which I believe is an unfortunate and degenerate one.
Not only that, but what the westerners did resulted in the modern world which championed this new morality that I guess you have now inherited and are using to judge it.
If you are unhappy with the actions of the westerners because of a ‘world peace’ style doctrine (a relatively new idea), then it is because you are the benefactor of the westerners efforts - through inheriting western-spread moral code. A code which (I believe) leads to fairer treatment for all and higher living standards. I don’t think this existed among Aztecs.
So on a moral front we benefit too - to live in a society that values justice, to have this discussion freely, and on a phone, on the internet, means we both benefit hugely from western efforts.
Where would we be if the westerners never did that?
All of this is not to say we can’t or shouldn’t all now aim to help everyone to come up, to not be exploited, to develop etc. Which may have been what the initial post (not just the video) was getting at.
If the exploitation and marginalisation continues to the present day that’s a different question. You say it does, can you tell me about it? Or where to look?
To talk of morals - the Aztecs were arguably more brutal to other local tribes than the Westerners were to them (human sacrifice, ritual war, honour killing rather than forgiveness etc). To draw the moral line at the arrival of the Westerners is arbitrary and hypocritical. From an Aztec perspective, they were virtually played at their own game, which I believe is an unfortunate and degenerate one.
Not only that, but what the westerners did resulted in the modern world which championed this new morality that I guess you have now inherited and are using to judge it.
If you are unhappy with the actions of the westerners because of a ‘world peace’ style doctrine (a relatively new idea), then it is because you are the benefactor of the westerners efforts - through inheriting western-spread moral code. A code which (I believe) leads to fairer treatment for all and higher living standards. I don’t think this existed among Aztecs.
So on a moral front we benefit too - to live in a society that values justice, to have this discussion freely, and on a phone, on the internet, means we both benefit hugely from western efforts.
Where would we be if the westerners never did that?
All of this is not to say we can’t or shouldn’t all now aim to help everyone to come up, to not be exploited, to develop etc. Which may have been what the initial post (not just the video) was getting at.
If the exploitation and marginalisation continues to the present day that’s a different question. You say it does, can you tell me about it? Or where to look?