The answer is probably not, because I doubt I'm going to have any response that deflates a lifetime of American culture and propaganda, but I'd like to know if y'all have made any success.

I ask because earlier today a person I know came to me, asking if I knew about what's going on in Cuba. I answered there's a kind of small anti-government protest alongside much larger pro-government demonstrations. This was immediately flipped as proof of Cuba's tyranny, since a large pro-government demonstration means everyone's afraid of being jailed or executed. I tried mentioning Cuba has a pretty popular government, the vote on the constitution seems proof of that, but that also just gets flipped as proof of tyranny.

I don't know, it was frustrating and I otherwise respect this person. Have y'all been having trouble?

  • panopticon [comrade/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Been having similar difficulties communicating my views on the Xinjiang/China "discourse." If you figure something out let me know

    • Babalouie [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      imo Cuba is much easier to talk about. Focus on the embargo, libs can easily figure out that it's cruel and immoral.

      • panopticon [comrade/them]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Yeah I agree, it's a lot more clear cut and straightforward. China's harder talk about because there's a lot of context, historical specificity and nuance that has to break through decades of propaganda and chauvinism.

        Off topic, but I listened to this lecture about China's programs in Africa at work today. I feel like she did a good job explaining the nuances and historical context and she clearly knows what she's talking about.

    • axont [she/her, comrade/them]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Oh, I do know the answer to that one. I ask them about what the USA has been doing in Afghanistan for the past 20 years and how they felt about it. That's usually where to start.

    • fuckwit [none/use name]
      ·
      3 years ago

      I'm sorry, I don't want to get into a China struggle sesh or get banned but I will never go bat for China like I will forCuba.