Can't we agree on who started the war? (theoretical)

In My Humble Opinion
21

Only if we win. Otherwise it’s merely sour grapes.

22

I wouldn’t go quite that full-bore cynical.

@Isamu is right that we, ranging from all the Western powers and non-communist Asian powers down to us mere SDMB echo-chamberers, should be loudly shouting down now the garbage propaganda being pushed now by the Chinese.

All the more so because of how the Chinese POV is being dangerously parroted by the US-based RW propaganda machine simply because it sounds anti-Biden and Anti-Democratic party. When so-called patriots are parroting the enemy’s blatant propaganda while waving our flag, it’s pretty clear the inmates have taken over the asylum that’s jumped the cuckoo’s nest.

23

We’re doing that now with Russia and Ukraine. Who is listening in Russia? How are they listening, when state media controls dissemination of news and censors opposing versions?

For that matter, Americans can’t penetrate the bubble of other Americans who choose to listen to and believe only a huge set of lies. The left firmly believes that the right is evil and trying to destroy democracy and the right firmly believes that the left is evil and trying to destroy democracy. How does the OP propose to get around that?

The theory that we can just state the “truth” and have others pay attention is thoroughly shattered. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep saying truths, but that we need to clearly understand the outcomes. Saying that China started it will only matter to those willing to listen. China will be saying that we started it and that will matter to those who to believe. Both sides can “prove” they are right by their own standards: there are no higher powers to determine rightness.

Saying that history is written by the winners is true but mostly short-term thinking. On the one side, the right is claiming that the Nazis were the good guys; on the other, the left is claiming that America was the villain for slavery and genocide and Britain for imperialism and colonialism.

The trick is finding ways to convince people that a truth is a truth. Simply saying it does not work.