Better Than I Could Have Put It Myself
Here's the scoop for why I am for war. I just wish I could write as eloquently.
The only thing lacking is a refutation of the whole "colonialism" thing. Is there anything inherently wrong with being a colonial power?
No, there is not.
Colonialism has been done badly, I will admit, but it had many benefits.
1. It led to the end of slavery and the slave trade. Contrary to popular belief, it did not create slavery.
2. It led to the gradual elimination of the caste system in India. (For those who are worried about cultural imperialism, Gandhi and others reasoned against caste from Indian cultural values but gained valuable ammunition from the legal traditions of the British peoples.
3. Colonialism probably has resulted in better distribution of wealth in China without radically changing Chinese culture or values. Chinese Communism is yet another example of Sinification.
4. It exposed billions to viewpoints and ideas they never would have encountered in their own cultural traditions. Say what you will about the moral results of the Western physical and biological sciences, but I bet I could find plenty of Saudi males who appreciate the fertility treatments that vindicate their manhood.
With or without a particular cultural perspective, I am sure that responsible colonialism is better than its alternatives any day.
The rub is that it ought to be responsible. Those who decry colonialism and imperialism ought to teach us now how to use it responsibly.
By the way, I am being controversial here, feel free to yell at me.
ESA (20030319.1)
Here's the scoop for why I am for war. I just wish I could write as eloquently.
The only thing lacking is a refutation of the whole "colonialism" thing. Is there anything inherently wrong with being a colonial power?
No, there is not.
Colonialism has been done badly, I will admit, but it had many benefits.
1. It led to the end of slavery and the slave trade. Contrary to popular belief, it did not create slavery.
2. It led to the gradual elimination of the caste system in India. (For those who are worried about cultural imperialism, Gandhi and others reasoned against caste from Indian cultural values but gained valuable ammunition from the legal traditions of the British peoples.
3. Colonialism probably has resulted in better distribution of wealth in China without radically changing Chinese culture or values. Chinese Communism is yet another example of Sinification.
4. It exposed billions to viewpoints and ideas they never would have encountered in their own cultural traditions. Say what you will about the moral results of the Western physical and biological sciences, but I bet I could find plenty of Saudi males who appreciate the fertility treatments that vindicate their manhood.
With or without a particular cultural perspective, I am sure that responsible colonialism is better than its alternatives any day.
The rub is that it ought to be responsible. Those who decry colonialism and imperialism ought to teach us now how to use it responsibly.
By the way, I am being controversial here, feel free to yell at me.
ESA (20030319.1)
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