Letter: Too Much Freedom?

There is an old saying that says, “Every time you point a finger at someone else, just remember there are three fingers pointing back at you.” I think this motto is very applicable today when our PM and the President of the USA take every opportunity to scold leaders of other countries for their lack of freedom and human rights. Really?

When they give this hypocritical advice, is there not a voice in their head called conscience that is reminding them of the treatment of many ethnic groups that have been mistreated and lied to for centuries?

And let's take a look at the USA. Here is a country that gives the freedom for its people to arm themselves with weapons with the result that there are many more people murdered each year in the USA than are lost in some of their entire wars. Is this the type of freedom we should be promoting? Furthermore, there comes a point when these countries say, "Enough is enough," as in the case of China with regard to American interference in their handling of the Taiwan situation. Presently the situation is getting very touchy, and it would be devastating to see it develop into a Cold War or, heaven forbid, an all-out war.

And what is the moral of the story? In my opinion, it should be, "Don't tell your neighbours how to run their houses unless yours is squeaky clean," between you and me, it never will be. We can put forth our best efforts to mend our mistakes of the past and hopefully be a positive example to those countries that need it most.

Don Bamber
Oyen, AB