The British Empire

[Old git]

"For me the main "sin" of British Empire besides supporting of slavery is this anti-gay law what been installed by BE across Asian continent: in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and so on..."

Look at it from a different angle. At the time these laws were established by the Empire, they were relatively enlightened. The problem today is that 50 years after colonial rule ended, they are often still there because of entrenched homophobic attitudes among the local ruling class.

Would any of these countries have more enlightened laws today if they had never been part of the Empire? I very much doubt it. Some would probably still have sodomy down as a capital offence..

[frequent]

"For me the main "sin" of British Empire besides supporting of slavery is this anti-gay law what been installed by BE across Asian continent: in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and so on..."

Look at it from a different angle. At the time these laws were established by the Empire, they were relatively enlightened. The problem today is that 50 years after colonial rule ended, they are often still there because of entrenched homophobic attitudes among the local ruling class.

Would any of these countries have more enlightened laws today if they had never been part of the Empire? I very much doubt it. Some would probably still have sodomy down as a capital offence..

Oh god the whining noise of the self-righteous has started up again

[Old git]

The self-righteous whining ones are those who assume that everything the British Empire ever did must have been reprehensible.

Those who have actually looked at the history of it see a more balanced picture. Notably that in most cases the number of colonialists was tiny compared to the local population and could only have ruled with local consent - consent that was often won through the defensive protection membership of the empire provided.

I'm not saying that everything was rosy or that mistakes were never made, but those who automatically assume that everything to do with the British Empire must have been bad and exploitative should look a little closer. It was a very different world in those days.

[Oliver2]

"Local consent" ....you mean guns?

[Dimsumbear]

but those who automatically assume that everything to do with the British Empire must have been bad and exploitative should look a little closer. It was a very different world in those days.

Look at how deteriorated Hong Kong, a former British colony, has become after the handover to Communist China back in 1997. There are street demonstrations everyday as we speak and you see people waiving the old colonial flag.

[latintopxxx]

am afraid i gotta agree that indians to have a negative reputation guess its all part of their cultural upbringing with the caste system where they all look down at one another. One only has to read about how the lower castes are treated in the countryside where rape is a sport.

[frequent]

The self-righteous whining ones are those who assume that everything the British Empire ever did must have been reprehensible.

Those who have actually looked at the history of it see a more balanced picture. Notably that in most cases the number of colonialists was tiny compared to the local population and could only have ruled with local consent - consent that was often won through the defensive protection membership of the empire provided.

I'm not saying that everything was rosy or that mistakes were never made, but those who automatically assume that everything to do with the British Empire must have been bad and exploitative should look a little closer. It was a very different world in those days.

Wittering on about the perceived sins of a past empire - in another post you mentioned you “couldn’t forgive” - judged with the 20-20 perfect hindsight of 21st Century liberal values ... get a grip

[Old git]

"Local consent" ....you mean guns?

The locals usually had guns too - and even if they didn't, population ratios that were often over 1000:1 would defy any small arms, if the locals were not happy.

[Oliver2]

Good to see that "The White Man's Burden" is still alive and flourishing. it's a great feeling, isn't it, that we have done so much for the benighted sub-humans of the planet.....and that they are so grateful.

[frequent]

Good to see that "The White Man's Burden" is still alive and flourishing. it's a great feeling, isn't it, that we have done so much for the benighted sub-humans of the planet.....and that they are so grateful.

Absolutely Olly - how are you getting on with organising Gay Pride Palestine?
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showt...tting-cut-meat