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	<title>Comments on: Response to S Sivasegaram&#8217;s Rejoinder</title>
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		<title>By: Sivasegaram</title>
		<link>http://radicalnotes.com/journal/2009/11/24/response-to-s-sivasegarams-rejoinder/comment-page-1/#comment-23675</link>
		<dc:creator>Sivasegaram</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:42:29 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>I thank Ron very much for his response.
It is seldom that one has such a kind response to an opposing view.

I thought that I will add a brief comment urging the need to respond with understanding towards the conduct of allies working under difficult conditions.

When Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia in 1968, China, Albania, Romania and Yugoslavia were prompt to denounce it. 
Cuba criticised it initially, but subsequently yielded to Soviet pressure. (Cuba has since self-criticised its action on that and other issues). 
Vietnam was unhappy, but unable to take a public stand. 
No friend of Cuba or Vietnam took either to task over their &#039;amoral&#039; (or &#039;immoral&#039; ?) stand.

The point that I wish to make, with which I believe that Ron would not seriously disagree, is that we should be aware that our moralistic stands cannot be matched by others who are subject to pressures which are even threatening their survival. 
My concern was mainly about the rash response of some genuine friends of Latin America, which, again, I can understand but not endorse.

Criticism should be friendly, and not hostile. Dissent and criticism are not bad things, but distancing from friends and denouncing them are bad.
Also, we should remember that it was not Cuba or Venezuela which initiated the UNHRC resolution, which was precipated by a US-led conspiracy.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I thank Ron very much for his response.<br />
It is seldom that one has such a kind response to an opposing view.</p>
<p>I thought that I will add a brief comment urging the need to respond with understanding towards the conduct of allies working under difficult conditions.</p>
<p>When Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia in 1968, China, Albania, Romania and Yugoslavia were prompt to denounce it.<br />
Cuba criticised it initially, but subsequently yielded to Soviet pressure. (Cuba has since self-criticised its action on that and other issues).<br />
Vietnam was unhappy, but unable to take a public stand.<br />
No friend of Cuba or Vietnam took either to task over their &#8216;amoral&#8217; (or &#8216;immoral&#8217; ?) stand.</p>
<p>The point that I wish to make, with which I believe that Ron would not seriously disagree, is that we should be aware that our moralistic stands cannot be matched by others who are subject to pressures which are even threatening their survival.<br />
My concern was mainly about the rash response of some genuine friends of Latin America, which, again, I can understand but not endorse.</p>
<p>Criticism should be friendly, and not hostile. Dissent and criticism are not bad things, but distancing from friends and denouncing them are bad.<br />
Also, we should remember that it was not Cuba or Venezuela which initiated the UNHRC resolution, which was precipated by a US-led conspiracy.</p>
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