Re: [OT] Ex-colonies was: Liberals

At 11:28 PM -0500 9/15/02, Don M wrote:
>
>I think the term "massive" in tribal wars is a bit of
>a misnomer. Yes the tribal strife is back but, given
>the colonial practice of using a minorities as the police
>force	and as troops certainly didn't help. Further the
>advent of western weapons and military practices really
>has brought the old tribal wars a new and far deadlier
>dimension. As for tribal traditions of murder and slavery
>we don't have to look at the former European colonies,
>there are a few spots in Europe that come to mind as
>meeting those same conditions.

Don, the Hindus and Muslims weren't attacking each other with 
Churchill tanks. They were using swords, sticks and what rare 
firearms were at hand. The riots were large enough to be massively 
deadly based on sheer numbers.

>
>The point being this, when you strip away all the high
>sounding words war is at it base  theft. You are ether
>trying to steal by force of arms or prevent that theft by
>those same arms. Humans bolt on the suitable
>ideology later to help them sleep at night.

Different age. I had a conversation on this subject with a chap from 
Malasia about this very subject a few weeks back.

The colonial-ism mode of the 16th and 17th centuries changed to that 
of the 20th century where at least in the case of the British, the 
government actively did what it could to do better for the people in 
its power. The chap I specifically spoke with stated that he felt 
Malaysia was better for having been a colony of the British. Far 
better than say of the French, Dutch or Belgians. The British left a 
lasting legacy of technology, education and infrastructure that 
allowed the country to jump off from that point and continue.

Many post colonial era problems in parts of the world are in spite of 
Britain's efforts to leave the country in good standing and in 
working order. India had its problems due to the long standing strife 
between different peoples. HM's government probably made the peaceful 
existence of so many people possible due to the fact that they 
weren't under the rule of local royalty. I have to wonder what M 
Ghadi would think if he saw how Pakistan and India were aiming Nukes 
at each other. He might think rule by the British wasn't so bad after 
all.

Zimbabwe has slowly slid into a clusterfuck despite British good 
intentions. One could say the same of Palestine/Israel to a more 
limited extent (in some ways I think the Israeli's are getting back 
100 fold the bread they cast at the British). Of course neither 
resemble the complete and utter messes that became of the Belgian 
Congo and other parts of Africa when those colonial powers pulled up 
root and left.
-- 
Ryan Gill	       rmgill@SPAMmindspring.com
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