[aaronem]

I think the concept of natural rights, such as that to free speech, is a lovely idea, whose only drawback is that it's not in any sense grounded in reality. I think the Chinese government, being sovereign, has the power to legislate its subjects' rights, just as that of the United States has over that of its citizens. And I think that for the citizens of one nation, to act directly against enforcement of another nation's said legislation, qualifies as an attack against that other nation's sovereignty.

None of these thoughts is tremendously controversial in its own right, save where they conflict with cherished beliefs which I do not happen to share.

[logfromblammo]

Just because might has made right for tens of thousands of years does not mean it should continue to do so tomorrow morning.

Reality is that political power extends from the barrel of a gun. But we also dream bigger and imagine better.