- cross-posted to:
- news@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- news@beehaw.org
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Apologizing for your forbears actions is strange to me. Colonialism had many bad results and effects, but it also brought about many incredibly positive changes and advancements. It’s not a black and white issue.
When I first read this comment, I thought "for sure, not black and white. This fella says there’s ‘incredibly positive changes and advancements’ "
Then I tried to think of one positive change or advancement that colonialism brought about. I’m sorry, my lemon, I’m calling BS. Honestly, the best thing I could come up with was “a bunch of bananas for 79¢” and frankly, that industry is horrifying.
Yuval Harari’s “Sapiens” has some good perspectives on this issue. I recommend you read it. Then check out some of the cited sources.
If by “brought about positive changes”, you mean that it’s allowed colonial powers to enrich themselves enormously while draining their colonies of wealth, leaving millions to starve and destabilizing regions for generations, then yes perhaps you’re right. The argument you used could be applied in exactly the same way to justify slavery. The positive changes here always favour the oppressor, never the oppressed.
@Chipthemonk @BrikoX Is there something that makes you think positive changes & advancements wouldn’t have happened without colonialism?
It’s hard to imagine that we would be where we are today, as a technologically advanced and free society in the west, without colonialism.
@Chipthemonk To assist your imagination, consider Japan. It wasn’t colonised (in fact it eventually became a coloniser) but found its own path to development.
If they became a colonizer, then they were not “in need” of technological advancement. And when I say technological advancement, I’m referring to things like communication, healthcare, a court of law, and so much more.
The places that got colonized got colonized because they were not as well developed, both in terms of capacity, infrastructure, and technology, to name a few things.
Colonialism allowed places not like Japan to become as advanced as Japan.
@Chipthemonk @boyi Point is, before being colonised, India was at a similar level of tech to Japan; some would say India’s textiles were ahead. So if left to themselves, what makes you think they wouldn’t have built railways etc. as Japan did? Likewise, Ethiopia already had roads, courts etc. when briefly occupied by Italy. The Italians’ advantage was an air force & poison gas.
If they were as advanced, then they wouldn’t have been colonized. The railways were introduced by the British colonizers.
Sure, many places would have eventually caught up, maybe, but it would have taken a long, long time.
The anti colonialism narrative that is big these days could use a lot more nuance.
@Chipthemonk What you say about being advanced is true if defined militarily. So they “needed to be colonised” because they were unable to repel colonisers (as Japan did, and as Ethiopia did until the 1930s)?
I wasn’t really aware that Keti Koti had a kind of remembrance day format. It’s hard for me as a white Dutchman to truly understand the complexities of the situation, but we can all agree that slavery was horrible and that having a remembrance ceremony like this is a good thing. The apology seemed sincere and well received.
I forgive you, we need the colonialists of THIS ERA to apologize and pay for their crimes.
Or at least end the embargo on Cuba and the terrorism against Palestine.
If you’re actually sorry, make ammends. Give the people of Congo your wealth Mr. King man.
Dutch, not Belgian.
