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VAMatt on 16 December 2018
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Eagle367 said:
VAMatt said:

I agree with most of that.  But, because the evils done by different countries very, the ways to avoid putting your stamp on those evils also vary.  In the US, a tourist should not go on tours of military vessels, visit war memorials, try to avoid paying taxes to the federal government (which is easy for tourists), etc.  In China, one should not even enter their ridiculous surveillance state.  By doing so, you're consenting to it.  

That's highly inaccurate. By buying the US dollar, by eating at a mcdonald's in the US, by getting a phone service, by buying some groceries, I am paying the US government through taxes. You really can't escape taxes. By going to the US, am I not endorsing their military exploits by your logic? Am I not betraying the people who were killed by the US amry in my countries by that logic? I will visit a country for the people and the landscape, not to endorse any nation. China is a beautiful country and so is the US. India is a beautiful country and so is israel, iran etc. That's the only reason other than business and family reasons why I would want to go there. And as a tourist, I won't feel restricted in any of these nations in any meaningful ways unlike war zones or a country like North Korea where you are not allowed to roam freely. In China I can choose where to go and what to do and that's enough for me to consider visiting them. Governments, injustices and politics will never go away that does not mean we isolate ourselves to our own country. The humans in china are still humans and I will not restricted in my human interactions in China so your logic is very flawed. That sort of logic will only cement the country in the way they are instead of bringing any meaningfull change anywhere. That's why sanctioning iran increases the fundamentalism in that nation and Russia has basically stopped caring about sanctions as they are sanctioned so much. Only through interaction and dialogue does any change occur. Your method will not get anyone anywhere and will only fester hate, resentment and a feeling of us vs them in normal humans which the governments would actually prefer since it is easier for the US to control it's citizens if they hate muslims, hate Russians and hate the chinese. Similarly it would benefit the Chinese government if their citizens hate the US and the west. Propaganda is easy to sell with isolationism and hatred breeding

Disagreeing with me does not mean that my logic is flawed.

Also, your understanding of taxation in the United States appears to be flawed.  Nearly all of the taxes that a tourist would pay would be going to state and local governments, which are in no way linked to the federal government.  It's the feds that do the warring and imperialism.

In any case, you're obviously free to go wherever you want.  If you want to go to China, go right ahead.  I've never been to Asia, but I would like to go at some point. As it stands today, I don't think I would be able to visit China.  I'd probably stick to  more liberal countries like South Korea and Japan, where I wouldn't have to feel guilty about putting my stamp of approval on an oppressive regime.