If a lib reads this, they're going to think "yeah, that is whataboutism." We have to refute the idea that comparing countries is somehow bad analysis, not just mock the thought-terminating cliche they use.
I usually go with "comparing different countries' actions is the foundation of international law" or paraphrase Parenti's comment about how you don't judge governments against utopia, you judge them against what they replaced (and their peers, too).
it's only whataboutism when we're criticizing Good Country. When criticizing Good Country's current and recent actions, it's appropriate and intellectual to always change the subject to be about something Bad Country did in the 50s.
If a lib reads this, they're going to think "yeah, that is whataboutism." We have to refute the idea that comparing countries is somehow bad analysis, not just mock the thought-terminating cliche they use.
I usually go with "comparing different countries' actions is the foundation of international law" or paraphrase Parenti's comment about how you don't judge governments against utopia, you judge them against what they replaced (and their peers, too).
it's only whataboutism when we're criticizing Good Country. When criticizing Good Country's current and recent actions, it's appropriate and intellectual to always change the subject to be about something Bad Country did in the 50s.