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Once upon a time Britania ruled the waves, the French empire stretched from Morocco to Vietnam, the Dutch reigned the 'Belt of Emerald' and Belgium had colonized the dark green heart of Africa. In those days the power of Europe was unmatched and even magnificent empires like those of the Chinese and the Ottomans crumbled under the boots of their soldiers. Technologically they were so advanced that the other people of the world thought them invicible. They did as they pleased and plundered the resources of vanquished nations. Where their ships appeared kings were overthrown, emperors were forced into vassalry and nations were crushed. Their forgotten continent had risen out of darkness and entered the 'age of enlightenment', but it cast a shadow over the rest of the world. Civilizations were destroyed in South America, an entire race was driven into exile in the North and the people of Africa were carried away in slavery. Once mighty Asia was humiliated, its princes hardly more than puppets. The Aborginals of Australia saw their homeland change beyond recognition...
The 19th century was Europe's century. Its cast-iron fist had destroyed all opposition. The Zulu, the Afghans, the Chinese boxers... They were no match for the European guns. And so the Western kings and queens ruled over vast empires the world had never seen before...
And nowadays the Europeans call the Americans imperialists... |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 | Oh, but we are imperialists, Fledermaus! But I reckon our turn is almost over and now we hand the burden of our imperialism on to the next superpower. And let's see just how badly they screw everything up. Same old s---, different a------s.
I thought this was well-written and thought-provoking. Years ago, I once got into a quarrel with a man from the Netherlands. He chastised me for coming from a racist society. I was rather amazed at this: I would not deny that America was racist, but I asked him if he thought that the Netherlands was not the same. He did not. I pointed out the fact that a lot of slave ships had been owned by the Dutch, that the Dutch colonies in South America and Indonesia had not been models of racial harmony, etc. -- and he was enraged. I really thought he was going to beat me up. Wish I'd been able to show him your little essay then, but you were probably about two months old at the time. . . |
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 3rd February 2007 | Thanks Witzl.
Well I guess that since Pim Fortuyn the Dutch have certainly lost the arrogance to think they are racist-free. Unfortunately the balance now seems to flip over to the other side and political incorrectness seems to have become the norm.
I know of an African who moved to the USA and he was surprised by how well he was treated. In Holland he was constantly looked upon with suspicion, but in the US he was just an American like everyone else. Quite a contrast with the picture of America we get presented via the media.
It's a funny thing, that the Europeans accuse other nations of the things they did (or do) themselves. | HI Fledermaus
Written by jean.day (2266 comments posted) 3rd February 2007 | I enjoyed this - and also the follow on discussions in the reviews.
There is a lot of racism in the US which doesn't necessarily get in the headlines. Certainly where I came from there were very few black people, but the native Indians were very much those who were treated badly.
Having robbed them of their land, forced them onto reservations, we then criticised them for their failure to integrate. | Americans
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 4th February 2007 | Thanks Jean.
From what I see on TV it looks as if skin colour is a major issue in the USA, but from what I heard from that African guy, it wasn't a big deal at all where he lived (Chicago).
The silly thing here in Europe is that many people (especially those who have never met an American irl) seem to have this strange sort of arrogance to think that they are better than Americans.
I recall some news-report where they showed "how ignorant Americans were about the rest of the world" by asking people in the USA to point out Holland on a map. Of course all of them did this wrong, but I bet that if you ask an average Dutchman to point out the Gambia on a map he would fail too... It has nothing to do with a lack of education, just with an Eurocentric worldview.
And similarly for this view that Americans are more imperialistic than Europeans. If the Europeans would have that military power they would behave exactly the same, if not worse. They have proven it in the past once... |
Written by Phil (6683 comments posted) 4th February 2007 | Witzl said it all: same old shit, different arsehole.
It's got nothing to do with Europeans or Americans, it's about heartless men(usually) persuing wealth, power and influence because they can.
Good, thought provoking stuff.
Phil. |
Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 4th February 2007 | Hi Phil,
Thanks for your comment. I supose you're right. It's just a human thing. But then, it's of course silly to call another nation names when one's own nation does/did exactly the same. |
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