The British Empire

[JockSporran]

Russian president Putin once said: "Who ever doesn't miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain". Perhaps the same could be said of the British Empire.

Nobody wants it back (except maybe the BNP), and we all know about the dark side of imperialism, colonialism, racist oppression and jingoism, especially in India and Africa. But was it all bad? Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits would all have felt part of the same 'family'. Can Empire nostalgia be justified?

[Gormless]

Yes, it was all bad. Notice how the ex-colonies have leapt to the forefront of technology and civilisation since the ghastly Brits left.

[R1Geezer]

It ain't all bad, I bet the people of Rhodesia wish they where still part of it!

[beso]

Well the USA tested their missiles extensively during the Cold War and were pretty sure they wouldn't miss the Soviet Union when the president pressed the button.

We could say then that George W Bush had neither heart nor brain.

I am an Australian and I certainly don't miss the British Empire.

Most of us here have very little respect for the British aristocracy. It is an alien concept to the Australian way of life. Our soldiers were used as cannon foder by incompentent toffee-nosed British commanders in many wars.

[New Judge]

Which African states were you thinking of that may have �leapt to the forefront of technology and civilisation since the ghastly Brits left�, Gormless? I don�t know of any former African colonies (either British or otherwise) that have made such leaps.

India�s infrastructure, legislature and political structure were largely laid down by the British. They have had plenty of time (62 years, in fact) to dismantle them. Apart from the roads and railways that have suffered lack of maintenance, they remain largely the same as in 1947. Speak to anybody over 60 in India (and, before you ask, I have � extensively) and they will tell you that without the �Brits� influence India would not have been able to make the strides it has made in the recent past.

Yes, there were plenty of faults with Britain�s Empirical adventures. But there are plenty of lasting legacies too. To make a sweeping statement such as �it was all bad� is somewhat disingenuous and shows a lack of understanding.

[naomi24]

I get the impression that Gormless' post was somewhat tongue in cheek, New Judge. (Of course, I could be wrong).

[123everton]

The empire was very expensive to run and the very people who lament it's passing are often the self same people who berate the levels of immigration it allowed in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
it is true that many older Indians and Pakistanis wonder how India might have turned out if still under British rule as both countries are inherantly corrupt.
I went to Egypt many years ago and the poverty I saw was unbelievable, as an English man if Egypt was still under our dominion I would not allow such poverty to remain on our conscience.

[rojash]

What most people seem to forget is that The British Empire didn't just oppress the peoples of other countries.

Talking of Australia, beso says "Our soldiers were used as cannon foder by incompentent toffee-nosed British commanders in many wars. ". That's true, of course, but so were ours (the British Tommies).

[R1Geezer]

well Australia does'nt really count as it was never part of the Empire, it was just a sh1th0le where we dumped our criminal scum. So derogatory comments from the whinning sh1ts is not surprising.

[rojash]

Well, R1Geezer, I wouldn't have expressed it quite like that, but you're not far wrong. After all the people who colonised Australia are still there, running it and oppressing the natives.

[123everton]

Everyone talks about Australia and yet nobody ever mentions the Maoris.
The last I read they are still technically at war with us.

[rojash]

OK, 123everton, "the people who colonised New Zealand and Australia are still there, running them and oppressing the natives. "

Is that better?

[Quinlad]

The great thing about having different countries is that they're different.

The problem with imperialism is that it inevitably homogenises countries within an empire, diluting the different flavours.

Who'd want that back?

[New Judge]

Well we've got it nonetheless.

It's called the European Union.

[rojash]

"it inevitably homogenises countries within"
You don't need an empire to do that any more: Hollywood, Starbucks, McDonalds, et al, will do it for you

[123everton]

Yes much, thanks Rojash. ;-)

[mallam]

Naomi 24: "I get the impression that Gormless' post was somewhat tongue in cheek, New Judge. (Of course, I could be wrong)."

So did I, and more than somewhat! And I get the impression that your caveat that you could be wrong is likewise laying on the irony more than somewhat. On the other hand, if you are indeed wrong, that makes two of us.

Well, Gormless, are you going to claim your lateral tongue-biting laurels?

Nao, are you the Nao who reassured me that you were a Nao and not a Niyo or a Nah-o or whatever?