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Originally Posted by DuH2
I doubt many Australians believe they are subjects of "the world."
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Huh? What on earth ever gave you that idea? We certainly don't believe we exist over and above the world. There is only one nation so narcissistic. And it's not Australia. Of course we are world subjects. We all live on the same planet, don't we?
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If "international law" says 'x' and Australian law says 'y' which do you follow?
It IS as simple as that.
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Yes it is. The laws of civilised, decent nations should be in sync with international law. They should not be mutually exclusive. After all - these ideals are for the good of everyone. Not just one country who thinks they are the centre of the universe and that they stand above all others.
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approving a delcaration of those principles does not bound your naiton and govenrment to upholding them in spite of its own interests.
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And therein lies the rub. Being decent world citizens clearly is `in spite of the interests' of the US. Global hegemony and subscription to decent human ideals and standards cannot come hand in hand. The US is only interested in the former, whilst proclaiming to subscribe to the latter (oh, and condemning and/or invading nations who also subscribe to the former, but just without the facade of `democracy' to hide under). Which is the only reason you have an issue with international law. You don't want it to apply to you because you want to be allowed free reign to do whatever you want to rule the world. If you kept within your own borders, ever, I doubt we'd be having this conversation. The US has historically been as reluctant to subscribe to international law and treatises as nations like Iran and China. And yet
they are the enemy? Well, I guess it's all a matter of perspective.
In any case, Australia has no history of such reticence to subscribe to internationally binding treatises. We have no hidden agenda (or not so hidden). We're quite happy with where we are in the world.
And just to save you from your next comment, yes, yes - if it weren't for you we'd all be speaking Japanese now. Not that such a comment would be relevant, but it's the usual tired argument people spew when justifying the US' quest for global dominance.