From: Jerry Levy (Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM)
Date: Thu Jan 19 2006 - 11:00:16 EST
> without seeming to vent a banality. I am well aware most socialist > revolutions involve expropriation of property, and where is the morality > in that? Hi Jurriaan, OK, I'll take a small bite: One could make several claims, including -- 1) the expropriation of capitalist property is a returning of property to its rightful owners. 2) in many cases, expropriation might be justified with the principle of self-defense; 3) for those who commit violence against people (e.g. counter-revolutionary forces attempting a coup) the threat of expropriation could be seen as a deterrent and its imposition as a legitimate form of punishment; 4) in many contexts, it could be justified through the principle of self-determination. I think that most moral systems incorporate means of addressing past wrongs. It is a bit much to expect people after a revolution to simply forgive all past wrongs. Expropriation is a form in which some, but not all, of those past wrongs can be addressed. In solidarity, Jerry
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