The recent debacle with Helen Zille remarking that some good things did come out of colonialism, thus causing a storm of infantile denial of what should be seen as a self-evident fact, is a sad reflection of how political expediency creates dishonesty.
One can see why praise of any of the regimes which built the early infrastructure of South Africa would be a sensitive area with a party which does not want to give an image of favouring white elitism. Nevertheless, it is disappointing that they have to descend to policies which stick heads in sand. No sensible person is saying that the domination aspects of colonialism were in any way praiseworthy. It is incontrovertible fact, though, that the initial impetus which brought Africa out of non-technological tribalism into the ability to live in a developed world on terms of equality came from colonists and colonialists. Furthermore, the vast majority of such were people of praiseworthy energy, enterprise and courage. They carved these beginnings while overcoming immense difficulties and hardships, as any proper study of their history will reveal.
There is no doubt that serious mistakes arose out of their convictions of racial superiority, and that even with the excuse of the period many of their actions were inexcusably brutal. This is a valid, but separate, issue. It does not detract from the legitimacy of the debt owed to them in terms of the development of the country.
The question has to be asked: had there been no colonists, where would this knowledge and infrastructure have come from? Would somebody have waved a magic wand?
Also, those now pontificating about the evils of colonialism should imagine finding themselves in a reversal of roles, becoming the colonists with their mindsets of the time. In what manner would they have handled things differently or any better?
Great post, Col. Loved the comments too, especially the Monty Python. 🙂
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A sensible balance, Leslie
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Thanks. Unfortunately sense is in rather short supply in the quarters giving rise to the outraged outcries..
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It’s the way of the world, I’m afraid. What another blogger I follow calls “childishly simple narrative”. With goodies and baddies.
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One can well imagine petulant children going, ‘Is!’ ‘Isn’t!’ indeed.
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Same thing here in Australia, English bad; Aborigines good, fueled by do-gooders and non-thinkers; I now just shake my head and wonder what goes on inside some peoples heads, I was going to say brains but I have doubts
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Everyone goes into guilt trips and then gets herded like stupid sheep into the extreme mindset. Pathetic.
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I’ve never experienced a guilt trip in my life. I just think that the English brought a damned sight more good to the world than bad
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I think the Monty Python sketch embedded here by disperser is a remarkably good illustration of the attitude opposed to the reality. History is repeating — and the same sort of claptrap is being regurgitated.
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There is no room for nuances in today’s discussions, something that is as frustrating here in the current adversarial political and social climate. Whatever side one is on, the requirement appears to be for an adherence to a strict view of the world.
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A view, in fact, that is akin to tunnel-vision.
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In these conversations, I’m always reminded of this skit:
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Brilliantly apt!
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Emilio does gets things right sometimes;
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It’s so sad that discussion of issues is never nuanced but has to become gladitorial. It soon descends to a ‘if you’re not with us you’re against us’ stance, and then it’s only a short step to prosecution, persecution and worse.
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Part, in fact, of the common inability to see the middle ground with almost everything. Precious few things are utterly true or utterly false.
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Some are.
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Try naming a few. It isn’t that easy. Like the sun rises in the east. It doesn’t actually rise, and it isn’t actually east.
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Water is wet.
Snow is cold.
Women reproduce. Men don’t.
Politicians lie.
Money wins.
Want me to continue?
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There are exceptions to every one of those. Thus they are not totally true. E.g. water as ice is still water but isn’t wet. Snow can be used for warming and is warm in relation to liquid helium.
Actually there are no absolutes except the absolute that there are none
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Right, so when do men bear babies and produce them to full term?
And when doesn’t money win?
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When (as has happened) a person living as a man turns out to have female reproductive organs and discovers this by becoming pregnant etc.
Gamblers?
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Intersex? Not a man.
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You have to qualify or argue the point. Thus it is still not a complete black or white.
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Well,now I have. So there.
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Whatever. Still not a valid ‘colonialism was all bad’ comparison.
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Not saying it was. Two different discussions.
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True.
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