I take the point of the article and agree that the topic of the British empire should be taught more in schools and in a less ‘Daily Mail endorsed’ fashion.
I think the Harry Flashman books should be compulsory reading as they are immensely readable, thoroughly researched (by a man who was in the thick of it in WWII) and shows subtly the ridiculous side of the empire and its mover & shakers but without resorting to hysteria that we can often see in discussions about such a divisive topic (understandably).
However, as for the ‘mark of Cain’ element of the article I have to say I disagree. If everyone was to hang on to every act of wrongdoing throughout the centuries then we simply have a recipe for nationalism (the very bad version of nationalism) and war.
Where does it stop? Do Scandinavians have to apologise every time they come to Britain and Ireland?
Do the Turkish politicians have to crawl through mini-portals when they enter governmental buildings in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece (to name a few!).
Do the Iranians have to apologise constantly for constantly invading central south asia?
Should the Uzbekhs be made to feel bad about celebrating Timurlane? Should the Mongolians discreetly take down statues of Ghengis Khan and other Khans?
And as for the Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Russians….
The list goes on and on.
So, I don’t like this hereditary guilt that we’re imposing on people (and we are).
I read and watch too much sci-fi for my own good but it’s interesting to note that as sci-fi writers tend to be idealists nationalism and hereditary guilt tends to be absent (at least in my experience).
If idealists want neither nationalism or the judging of people by their birth status and origin (which is what this article is doing) then should that not be a pause for thought?
Like I say, education about the dark side of the empire is welcome but and obligatory apology from every statesman or representative will make things worse rather than better (imho).
I agree re apologies, AG – I think they are totally pointless. I saw D Cameron’s apology for Bloody Sunday as almost farcical – the British army killed fourteen people back then and we’re really sorry, ok? But I do believe the facts of empire should be taught. When I was at school, the people of Africa and other places were presented as primitives, savages, with the white man coming with the benefits of civilization. Never a murmur of the horrors in India or Kenya or Burma (as was) or all the other places. That’s the foundation on which empire is built and it’s wrong and dangerous to pretend otherwise. Ditto, of course, goes for the present-day US Empire.
Ah Harry Flashman , Am Ghob…the perfect antidote…I hope you are also keeping up with his uncle Thomas Flashman’s equally hilarious adventures….five books so far and more to follow…..
I read the Flashman series years back. I enjoyed the first, maybe even a bit of the second. After that I found they became tedious. Different folks, different Flashmans…
Unfortunately the British people are like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed a diet of….well you get the picture. They don`t care about their brutal past, they don`t even care about their current day activities in the middle east.
From Old Kolcata and New Delhi to Darjeeling
Tout wallahs have done their share of squealing
We’ve here a raj rag
That daily gets to brag
It , independently, finds all this most appealing.
If only it was all the past. America and Britain are inveterate empire builders.
Just watching Channel 4 news at the moment which leads with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan; more civilians killed in the past year than at any other time.
I take the point of the article and agree that the topic of the British empire should be taught more in schools and in a less ‘Daily Mail endorsed’ fashion.
I think the Harry Flashman books should be compulsory reading as they are immensely readable, thoroughly researched (by a man who was in the thick of it in WWII) and shows subtly the ridiculous side of the empire and its mover & shakers but without resorting to hysteria that we can often see in discussions about such a divisive topic (understandably).
However, as for the ‘mark of Cain’ element of the article I have to say I disagree. If everyone was to hang on to every act of wrongdoing throughout the centuries then we simply have a recipe for nationalism (the very bad version of nationalism) and war.
Where does it stop? Do Scandinavians have to apologise every time they come to Britain and Ireland?
Do the Turkish politicians have to crawl through mini-portals when they enter governmental buildings in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece (to name a few!).
Do the Iranians have to apologise constantly for constantly invading central south asia?
Should the Uzbekhs be made to feel bad about celebrating Timurlane? Should the Mongolians discreetly take down statues of Ghengis Khan and other Khans?
And as for the Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Russians….
The list goes on and on.
So, I don’t like this hereditary guilt that we’re imposing on people (and we are).
I read and watch too much sci-fi for my own good but it’s interesting to note that as sci-fi writers tend to be idealists nationalism and hereditary guilt tends to be absent (at least in my experience).
If idealists want neither nationalism or the judging of people by their birth status and origin (which is what this article is doing) then should that not be a pause for thought?
Like I say, education about the dark side of the empire is welcome but and obligatory apology from every statesman or representative will make things worse rather than better (imho).
I agree re apologies, AG – I think they are totally pointless. I saw D Cameron’s apology for Bloody Sunday as almost farcical – the British army killed fourteen people back then and we’re really sorry, ok? But I do believe the facts of empire should be taught. When I was at school, the people of Africa and other places were presented as primitives, savages, with the white man coming with the benefits of civilization. Never a murmur of the horrors in India or Kenya or Burma (as was) or all the other places. That’s the foundation on which empire is built and it’s wrong and dangerous to pretend otherwise. Ditto, of course, goes for the present-day US Empire.
I agree Dr C.
Harry Flashman is a wonderful zeitgeist for all of what you’ve mentioned.
Ah Harry Flashman , Am Ghob…the perfect antidote…I hope you are also keeping up with his uncle Thomas Flashman’s equally hilarious adventures….five books so far and more to follow…..
I read the Flashman series years back. I enjoyed the first, maybe even a bit of the second. After that I found they became tedious. Different folks, different Flashmans…
Unfortunately the British people are like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed a diet of….well you get the picture. They don`t care about their brutal past, they don`t even care about their current day activities in the middle east.
INFORMED / R OPINION
From Old Kolcata and New Delhi to Darjeeling
Tout wallahs have done their share of squealing
We’ve here a raj rag
That daily gets to brag
It , independently, finds all this most appealing.
If only it was all the past. America and Britain are inveterate empire builders.
Just watching Channel 4 news at the moment which leads with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan; more civilians killed in the past year than at any other time.
Sometimes an apology is not enough,