Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
1–10 of 89 posts
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#2Whilst Kenya was an undoubted low point of the British overseas territories, it's chilling to think they were markedly better behaved than the French and especially Belgian colonies in Africa.
Quite how any of these were able to rationalise such behaviour, and so comparatively recently, whilst claiming to be civilised beats me.
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#3I'll never forget a discussion with a very intelligent professional American (in the software business) who refused to believe that America could possibly be engaged in torture. She just refused to believe that a country as 'great' as the US could commit torture. (this was a few years ago under GWB when Guantanamo was all over the UK papers but presumably still being suppressed in the US media).
The more stories like this are told and remove any shadow of a doubt about the foundations that western imperial states are built on the better.
Occasionally British politicians talk about "British Values" or "Making Great Britain Great Again" without any hit of acknowledgement of what 'British values' really entailed in reality.
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#4Whilst Kenya was an undoubted low point of the British overseas territories, it's chilling to think they were markedly better behaved than the French and especially Belgian colonies in Africa. Quite how any of these were able to rationalise such behaviour, and so comparatively recently, whilst claiming to be civilised beats me.
Blood and repression is the norm for empires, from Sumeria down through. The new thing is being ashamed of it.
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#5It is interesting how everyone wants to portray themselves as a victim. "I was persecuted for pursuing this very popular agenda, please ignore all the overwhelming support I got and pretend I am a victim". The idea that the British empire was an empire of evil and hatred has been the only acceptable view for decades, and is the standard story taught starting at least 3 decades back. You were not persecuted for supporting the majority view.
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#6I think a better example of the evilness of the British Empire is the Irish experience in the 19th century. You lose the "excuse" of racism and are left with religious sectarianism and sheer greed for the policy.
The British put inhumane and genocidal policies in place, starving millions in a land of plenty.
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#7I appreciate that she took a stand for what she believes in. I hope that someone of her calibur will also express how the carribean has so few natives or tribes being pocketed in little corners of many american countries. But I appreciate any effort to understand and reach for justice
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#8Whilst Kenya was an undoubted low point of the British overseas territories, it's chilling to think they were markedly better behaved than the French and especially Belgian colonies in Africa. Quite how any of these were able to rationalise such behaviour, and so comparatively recently, whilst claiming to be civilised beats me.
Blood and repression is the norm for empires, from Sumeria down through. The new thing is being ashamed of it.
> The new thing is being ashamed of it.
Which is a development I very much welcome.
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#9Whilst Kenya was an undoubted low point of the British overseas territories, it's chilling to think they were markedly better behaved than the French and especially Belgian colonies in Africa. Quite how any of these were able to rationalise such behaviour, and so comparatively recently, whilst claiming to be civilised beats me.
Blood and repression is the norm for empires, from Sumeria down through. The new thing is being ashamed of it.
Hm. Lots of people believed that the British Empire was absolutely fantastic. In reality, though it brought lots of trade to Britain, I don't think there was much interaction with the Empire for the normal person on the street.
If they had actually known what atrocities had been committed in order to get them that rubber or cotton would they have been so happy about it? I think modern shame is very much the product of modern access to information.
(To counter that point, most people can reasonably be expected to know where their bananas and palm oil came from and they still buy them)
Re: Uncovering the truth about the British empire and the Mau Mau uprising
#10I'll never forget a discussion with a very intelligent professional American (in the software business) who refused to believe that America could possibly be engaged in torture. She just refused to believe that a country as 'great' as the US could commit torture. (this was a few years ago under GWB when Guantanamo was all over the UK papers but presumably still being suppressed in the US media). The more stories like…
Let's be clear here though: it's not western imperial states, it's all imperial states throughout all of history, and all countries behave very differently at home compared to abroad.