>As a rhetorical lesson, notice how easily whataboutism can be turned in service of Nazism.
I don't consider "whataboutism" an offense -- rather it's what people used to call "calling a spade a spade" and not siding with pots in calling the kettle black, but rather pointing the finger and both the pot and the kettle.
(Of course I don't belong to either the pot or the kettle. I can understand why compatriots of one or the other would take offense at "whataboutism". They'd rather only the other is called out).
I also don't particularly see how if reality proves that both sides in WWII were bastards, or that the best between them dropped nukes on civilians with the same ease the Nazis murdered Jews (but just for 200.000 people, not 4 million) that's "in service of Nazism".
Rather it's in service of the truth those other victims ALSO deserve.
I wouldn't be satisfied if we just didn't repeat Nazism.
I also want us to not repeat imperialism and colonialism [1].
> I also want us to not repeat imperialism and colonialism
And I want us to not repeat the murder of JFK. However Oswaldians aren't a side in the conversation.
The opposition to nazis aren't colonialists. They are anti-nazis, democrats, republicans, human beings, ie people that don't like persecution of peoples. That's not a bad, equal, or comparable side to any obfuscation you've managed to dream up.
I don't consider "whataboutism" an offense -- rather it's what people used to call "calling a spade a spade" and not siding with pots in calling the kettle black, but rather pointing the finger and both the pot and the kettle.
(Of course I don't belong to either the pot or the kettle. I can understand why compatriots of one or the other would take offense at "whataboutism". They'd rather only the other is called out).
I also don't particularly see how if reality proves that both sides in WWII were bastards, or that the best between them dropped nukes on civilians with the same ease the Nazis murdered Jews (but just for 200.000 people, not 4 million) that's "in service of Nazism".
Rather it's in service of the truth those other victims ALSO deserve.
I wouldn't be satisfied if we just didn't repeat Nazism.
I also want us to not repeat imperialism and colonialism [1].
For that, call all out all sides is necessary.
(Well, we never stopped those, but in any case).