[wizardoz]

And I say violating a principle like States' Rights in order to attain a desirable end was the wrong thing to do. Find a way to attain the end without violating the principle.

[Ernie.cal]

In the real-world we make choices and those choices express our values and priorities.

I'm unclear about what alternative choices you propose that we should have made. Furthermore, where would your choices have led us, i.e. the likely outcome of those choices?