This is one of the primary arguments used all throughout colonial times. And it’s as bullshit now as it was then. It essentially claims all sovereign states to which another more powerful state exists in opposition, should relinquish the desire for sovereignty.
It should be possible for a people to say “We would like our autonomy” and expect other nations to say in response, “Understood, and we will ally with you to defend such a notion.”
It should be possible for a people to say “We would like our autonomy” and expect other nations to say in response, “Understood, and we will ally with you to defend such a notion.”
It should. But then again, the people of Gaza wanted to not be genocided and the world stood by and let it happen. While I fully agree with your sentiment, the specifics of the world right now might require a less than ideal approach.
Europe should say that, of course. But their weak talk so far suggests they probably won’t defend Greenlanders even if they are a part of Denmark; and if so if Greenland were independent at the moment there’s no reason to think that would somehow give them more of a spine.
I understand and agree with the sentiment that Greenland is a colonized place that should be independent. I also understand that telling colonized people “not right now” and “it’s too dangerous” are the lines the colonizers always use. But that might actually be the case in this moment. The reality is that the US/Israel axis is acting as if the world is theirs. It feels like we really are in 1939, only the US/Israel axis has far more relative power than the Germany/Italy axis ever did.
The concept of a nation only exists if you can defend it. I can’t declare my house a sovereign nation and assume that other nations have a moral duty to defend my sovereignty from America (or any other nation).
I get extrapolating an analogy to extremes to make a point. But there is a vast gulf of difference between declaring one’s house within a sovereign state another sovereign state and expecting others to come to your aid, and a large, otherwise uninhabited tract of land, rich with precious metals requesting sovereignty upon that land with the aid of allies with which they can trade.
This is one of the primary arguments used all throughout colonial times. And it’s as bullshit now as it was then. It essentially claims all sovereign states to which another more powerful state exists in opposition, should relinquish the desire for sovereignty.
It should be possible for a people to say “We would like our autonomy” and expect other nations to say in response, “Understood, and we will ally with you to defend such a notion.”
It should. But then again, the people of Gaza wanted to not be genocided and the world stood by and let it happen. While I fully agree with your sentiment, the specifics of the world right now might require a less than ideal approach.
Europe should say that, of course. But their weak talk so far suggests they probably won’t defend Greenlanders even if they are a part of Denmark; and if so if Greenland were independent at the moment there’s no reason to think that would somehow give them more of a spine.
I understand and agree with the sentiment that Greenland is a colonized place that should be independent. I also understand that telling colonized people “not right now” and “it’s too dangerous” are the lines the colonizers always use. But that might actually be the case in this moment. The reality is that the US/Israel axis is acting as if the world is theirs. It feels like we really are in 1939, only the US/Israel axis has far more relative power than the Germany/Italy axis ever did.
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
being a colony is not good
The concept of a nation only exists if you can defend it. I can’t declare my house a sovereign nation and assume that other nations have a moral duty to defend my sovereignty from America (or any other nation).
I get extrapolating an analogy to extremes to make a point. But there is a vast gulf of difference between declaring one’s house within a sovereign state another sovereign state and expecting others to come to your aid, and a large, otherwise uninhabited tract of land, rich with precious metals requesting sovereignty upon that land with the aid of allies with which they can trade.
Don’t be silly.
If only Maduro had thought to tell Trump he didn’t consent.