Re: [OT] Ex-colonies was: Liberals

Ryan ,

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.

True, but I think the point that you and many others miss is that
these  tribal wars always happen and sadly must happen. Look
at European history, most of the tribal and religious problems
were worked out before the Nukes were an issue. Sadly much
of the third world was prevented from working them out and
maturing in the process.Bloody as that process would have been.

 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.

I don't dispute that fact at all as I recall the line from a movie where
a person stated, " If on must have a ruler the British are by far the
best."
He went on to say, "But why have a ruler at all?" .

The British left a
lasting legacy of technology, education and infrastructure that
allowed the country to jump off from that point and continue.

True, in the end they did.....By trying to make the world England.

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.

It merely forestalled the inevitable, people need to work out their own
problems. A third party never fixes anything permanently.

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.

It would indeed....

 Zimbabwe has slowly slid into a clusterfuck despite British good
intentions.

Well it hasn't worked since they had the name change.

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).

Yes sort of starting things with the Belfore document.

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.

Without a doubt.

Don