>The American-led world order since WWII has led to an expansion of freedom and prosperity [...] It also embodies a just and fair way of managing international affairs, through law and democracy rather than the undemocratic system of the strong forcing the weak.
Wow... The people in Guatemala [1], Iran [2], Chile [3], Timor [4], and dozens other places will disagree with you. The will of the people stamped down by the boot of American might and imperialism, for the benefit of themselves: for the maintenance of their supreme place in the world on the back of neocolonialist exploitation of weaker countries. Is this not the picture of "undemocratic system of the strong forcing the weak"? Let's not forget the odious bootlicking of Saudi princes, for instance, and their positively medieval rule, for their economic favour.
> The people in Guatemala [1], Iran [2], Chile [3], Timor [4], and dozens other places ...
Agreed, and I considered whether to include that part of the story. On one hand, every HN comment can be criticized for leaving out details - we always can write more; these aren't dissertations or books, and each comment needs to draw the line somewhere. On the other, I probably should have mentioned that side of it.
But with that issue in mind, I was careful to write something that didn't contradict the parent's point. I said the expansion of freedom and prosperity have been unprecedented, which is true. It should be even more, including for the people of the places mentioned above, but it still has been unprecedented. I also wrote that the international order "embodies a just and fair way of managing international affairs, through law and democracy"; I was careful not to say it implemented those things are actually is democratic; it's not nearly that. But the UN, alongside the leading country actively promoting democracy and liberty is a huge step forward compared to human history, as are other international organizations and structures. There is a very long way to do, and every person that has suffered in those places and does suffer today deserves justice; we have a lot of work to do.
Agreed, and I considered whether to include that part of the story. On one hand, every HN comment can be criticized for leaving out details - we always can write more; these aren't dissertations or books, and each comment needs to draw the line somewhere. On the other, I probably should have mentioned that side of it.
But with that issue in mind, I was careful to write something that didn't contradict the parent's point. I said the expansion of freedom and prosperity have been unprecedented, which is true. It should be even more, including for the people of the places mentioned above, but it still has been unprecedented. I also wrote that the international order "embodies a just and fair way of managing international affairs, through law and democracy"; I was careful not to say it implemented those things are actually is democratic; it's not nearly that. But the UN, alongside the leading country actively promoting democracy and liberty is a huge step forward compared to human history, as are other international organizations and structures. There is a very long way to do, and every person that has suffered in those places and does suffer today deserves justice; we have a lot of work to do.