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British History (r)



Indy, look back into history a bit and recent history too, i think
places like Barbados and other island commonwealth territories have
asked that the Her Majesty the Queen and British dominion continue. but
we need some expert comment here, ds

Indiana wrote:
> 
> Dear Roger,
> 
> Just a couple of points which may help clarify your thinking:
> 
> At 09:54 AM 10/4/99 +0100, Roger Bunn wrote:
> 
> >The British populace, this nation,  is rapidly learning that  the
> >Burmese junta are a bunch of old fashioned drug dealing neo
> >nationalistas who hate the British, (for any old reason at all)...
> 
> While the junta constantly brings up the British colonial occupation in order to justify its abusive and xenophobic behavior today, this does not mean that the British were without sin in Burma.  The arrogant British imperialism imposed by force on Asia and elsewhere around the world from the 18th to the early 20th centuries cannot be denied.  This is why the British were thrown out of every country they colonized, from the US to India, except on the few occasions when they had the good grace to
> 
> Furthermore, although I am hardly a fan of the SPDC, I must agree that the British left behind a legacy of tyranny, division, and interracial distrust that not only Burma, but many other countries are still struggling to overcome.  This is not to say that the British did no good (their railways, schools, and administrative systems are still national standards in most countries), nor is it to say that all was peace and harmony between racial and cultural groups before the British arrived.  But to
> 
> >... the same style of pacifism being practiced in
> >Rangoon is gradually transfering itself abroad.  And it is not
> >so far away from playing into the already bloodied hands of
> >the Brit racist movements. Those which may have interested the
> >racist nasties of colonialism such as the right winger and author
> >of "Animal Farm", the late George Orwell.  Who once "served" in
> >Burma and who if alive today could look to such places and people
> >as the London junta fan areas, to take out his misbegotten racist
> >spleen...
> 
> 
> 
> Orwell's glory as a writer was his ability to see in himself and in his environment the pain and the beauty of the human condition, and to report it as honestly, clearly, and elegantly as he could.  His success in catching the illusive bird of Truth and putting it into a cage of words is attested to by his continuing worldwide popularity.
> 
> It does us no good to deny our own sins, neither as nations nor as individuals, in order to publicly establish our right to respect and dignity.  Respect and dignity are indeed everyone's birthright, but they must constantly be earned over and over again by honest self-examination and attention to our behavior, words, and even thoughts.  Failure to do this eventually leads to hearing the truth from others, and usually in a less than appealing manner.
> 
> Best wishes from your humble servant,
> 
> Indiana