“Khaaan!” saith J.T. Kirk. Great article. Khan rocks! He puts Sun Tzu's Art of War into brutal action 8 centuries later. I would recommend if you haven't already read a definitive & personal biography of the Honorable Khan: "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World."
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Getting back to your question, I think you've already stated your answer or opinion:
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"Thankfully, humans have evolved beyond this point."
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Considering the CO2 ppm today vs Mr. Khan's time, considering the global pandemic propagated by polluting airplanes & powerful civil servants, considering the never-ending fight between ignorant Muslims & zealous Christians since the Crusade, since Trump is in the Oval Office mocking democracy, I would say "Power" is favored by 80% of humans, 1% of uber-rich who indenture 99% of the 20% "Curious" people to annual subscriptions, human-trafficking & such unrelated friendly fire from the powerful & simian.
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Gallileo, Leo DaVinci, Cezanne & Einstein were not random flukes of nature. But the ghosts of MLK, Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Jesus, Prez Lincoln who were all gunned down or burnt by option #1 power-hungry people may disagree with your opinion.
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As you wrote counter to your opinion:
"But I can’t say that his conquest is something to be emulated. It’s very brutal, and if you’re going to conquer the world, it had better be for a good cause."
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Yes, I wonder what excuses or causes the Nouveau Khans are emulating or drumming up like MAGA? Ghengis worshipped the Eternal Blue Sky of Mongolia & beyond & the God Mountain of Burkhan Khaldun. He knew his place in the universe, to conquer & unite. I doubt his children are as visionary as that dead Mongol geezer; his country like Greece is a forgotten glory just like Khan’s legacy diluted by his quarrelsome children.
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Today we can't see the eternal skies because of smog & light pollution, so that's out, and a good excuse not to worship anything but me.
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Me thinks the powerful & ignorant worship Mammon today in secret, the demon-god of Money & Wealth like the Jews did while Moses was communing maturely & intelligently with curiosity listening, not talking back to God, and following His Word 2 the Letter.
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Too bad Genghis only got as far West as Austria in the 13th century. The world would be a more inclusive place for all people & religions. White people would be marginalized. They would have to look twice when Chinky Cops drive by. Orientals could emancipate them or not.
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Look at how united China has become compared to the dis-U.S.A.. China has the real power of Khan because they are quietly conspiring against New-Roman Caesar in DC with a shank tucked behind his Oriental back while whispering to Putin & Kim Il-Sung’s grandchild to arm the warheads against the Capitalist Whyte Pigs.