The only recourse that protects nations from being over-run is defensive warfare — Bitter Crank
Legal rights under national and international law guided by treaties, mutual understandings, precedent etc. — Baden
What arguments?
— Baden
Is it even possible to 'own' land in any but the legal sense[?] If we agree that it is, when do we draw the line on original ownership? Do we start with the labour-mixing of the agricultural revolution as Locke does or do hunter-gatherers also have a claim to land?
If we go down the first come-first served route, then the vast majority of land is unethically held. If we agree that unethically held land should be returned, then it follows that the vast majority of land should be returned. — jastopher
Perhaps, we can test the current population for Viking gene-markers and return the land to its prior owners, or should we delve deeper into human history and find the autochthonous settlers and give everything to them? Or is, as you suggest, the right to land ownership only proportional to the clamour made by those demanding reparations? — jastopher
The 'we were here first' argument doesn't work. — jastopher
Do you believe that some countries are illegitimate in that they took someone's land with out permission? If so, what should be done about it ideally? Should we give back the the land? To whom? the original owners or the previous owners? — Purple Pond
The 'we were here first' argument doesn't work.
— jastopher
What specific quote of mine is this supposed to connect to? — Baden
Some countries were forcibly made up by splitting an existing country in order to weaken it and ultimately destroy.Do you believe that some countries are illegitimate in that they took someone's land with out permission? — Purple Pond
Do you believe that some countries are illegitimate in that they took someone's land with out permission? If so, what should be done about it ideally? Should we give back the the land? To whom? the original owners or the previous owners?
Should Israel give the land back to Palestine? Should Australians give back their land to aborigines? Should Americans give back the land to the natives? Surely that's the only fair thing to do.
All humans took land away from animals. Should we abandon civilization and give back the land to animals? Wait a minute...those animals took land from other animals. Perhaps we should give land to the original animals. What are the original animals? They're probably extinct by now. Now what? — Purple Pond
They were illegitimate (not sure that's the adjective I'd use, but it's not far off), then it hardened, and they become legitimate. Because now the original victims and conquerers are dead. And because to take the land away now would be abuse by whatever power managed to accomplish this.Do you believe that some countries are illegitimate in that they took someone's land with out permission? — Purple Pond
Should Israel give the land back to Palestine? Should Australians give back their land to aborigines? Should Americans give back the land to the natives? — Purple Pond
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