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People who have power tend to abuse it.
Spain in South America or during civil war
Italy in Europe during time of emperors or Ethiopia prior to WW2
Germany - all over the place
Dutch in East Indies
etc etc
I would like to see the Vatican archives made public :eek:
Would I like to see statues destroyed all over Europe? Would it make up for the suffering of millions over thousands of years? Not really.
Robert G. Ingersoll said: “Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy.”
It is often mistaken as a quote by Lincoln himself tho.
Sure, but as they say, one bad deed doesn't justify another. So the solution is to REMOVE power from those in positions of authority who abuse it! Quite simply, if they're like that, they shouldn't have it in the first place.Quote:
Originally Posted by guy
Marco.
Like that one too, mate, and also so true! Just a pity that people such as Lincoln aren't the ones at the helm today in positions of power, and instead more like Hitler.Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
Marco.
Absolutely; just there is nothing to be gained by singling out the British Empire - unfortunately everyone does it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Not everyone.. Just the power-hungry and wealthy nations of the world. Were Scotland, Wales or N. Ireland guilty of such, other than being linked with Britain?
The point I'm making though is that too many folks are keen on praising the British Empire, and lauding it as something 'special', instead of ALSO criticising it, when many aspects of it were very worthy indeed of criticism!
Nothing or NO-ONE on this earth is beyond criticism. It's certainly a problem when, just because you're British (or English), and have a history of colonialism, you consider yourself as somehow 'superior' to others - and don't kid yourself on that many don't think that way (present company excluded).
Also, too many Brits think the sun shone out of Churchill's arse, when he was also guilty of some deplorable acts of racism. His views on 'white supremacy', for example. would certainly raise a few eyebrows among right-thinking people today who were previously only aware of his 'hero status'!
Marco.
sure, it made mistakes; at that time it was classified like all others as a profit making excersise, the british overall were better than most if not all, but they were also wrong. john company was the big pharma of its day and eventually supeceded by british govt. you have to remember they were also dealing with a peaples' who were barbaric and they did improve their lot but they tried to do it the wrong way, as all big countries/companies do. like america with the indidunous indians etc it was arrogance to think that they thought their a god was bigger than the their gods, and they would just accept it.
have we learned ? probably not as as macca says, history is frowned upon now.
they were often there as part of the uk and if they had power, they would have most likely behaved the same way, give or take. everything was.."our God is right, your God is wrong etc "Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
The Darien scheme to colonise the Isthmus of Panama and do what england did, didnt work out, mostly due to england and to a lesser extent the Spanish. But we would have done what England did if it had worked out and was needed.
The "British empire" wouldn't have existed/survived for as long as it did without the vital (and enthusiastic) support and participation of troops from Scotland, Ireland and Wales - I speak coming from a family which has a long history of serving in the British army.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Great grandfather (Molloy - Southern Irish) served all over the world - I have a great photograph of him in his pith helmet and white uniform while serving in India (now Pakistan near the Khyber pass).
Grandfather (also Molloy) served in India and WW1
Uncle (also Molloy ) killed in action - paratrooper WW2
Sure, guys. I'm no historian; I simply observe some of its obvious effects on human behaviour today. I enjoy seeing what makes people 'tick'!:)
As I mentioned Churchill, in reference to his part in colonialism, this is a good and well-balanced article to read: https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...ston-churchill
Key quote: "A baleful silence attends one of the most talked-about figures in British history. You may enthuse endlessly about Winston Churchill “single-handedly” defeating Hitler. But mention his views on race or his colonial policies, and you’ll be instantly drowned in ferocious and orchestrated vitriol.
In a sea of fawningly reverential Churchill biographies, hardly any books seriously examine his documented racism. Nothing, it seems, can be allowed to complicate, let alone tarnish, the national myth of a flawless hero..."
Indeed, and it's that attitude, among some Brits, that breeds a dangerous level of blindness and arrogance towards colonialism that can (and often does) turn into something more sinister...
Marco.