The British Empire Good or Bad........

[^woody^]

In a historical context.

Do you mean historically when the whole world was colonising, and committing the same "terrible things"?

Or historically when the whole world was colonising and committing the same normal things of the time?

Or do you mean historically because it was the British Empire that you want to single out for doing terrible things to make it sound like it was only the British that did the terrible things in a world where no-one else did?

 

[Vinty]

Some empires are fully aware of their inglorious past, indeed, the German (Empire) is totally committed to preventing such re-occurrences

Did the Germans ever pay compensation for all those chip shops they bombed during the Blitz.
At the bottom of my street an electricity sub station was built on the site of an air raid shelter that got a direct hit in WW2, 80 people were killed, these people never even got a plaque on a wall as a memorial.
As far as i know, the Jewish people have had over 100 billion in compensation from the Germans.
If the Germans are serious about atoning for their crimes, why didn't they pay compensation to their victims.

 

[Vinty]

.

 

[Vinty]

Of course not. More fool you for thinking that was what I meant.

What I said, and I said it very clearly for those that read it and properly understood it, and I'll repeat it now for those didn't:

When someone starts a thread to sing about the righteousness of the British Empire,(or any empire), the thread ticks along in the same direction. But as soon as anyone brings into focus the atrocities committed by the British Empire some of the usual culprits suddenly want to excuse, deny or hide the atrocities of the British Empire by loads of whataboutery. The thread was about the British Empire. Deflection and diversion only started when atrocities were mentioned.
It's just like they want to excuse, deny or hide the atrocities committed by the British Empire, by diverting attention to other nations.
Imagine a child sex offender up before the judge, and the judge asks the offender, what do you have to say for yourself. So the offender claims his offence was not really an offence because others have also committed the same offence. That is the mentality of the usual culprits.

If people want to talk about the British Empire, that's fine. We'll talk about the British Empire, warts and all. But let's not kid ourselves that the atrocities committed by the British are OK or excusable, because other nations also committed atrocities.

The education in schools is just as culpable. i suspect every child is taught about the 6,000,000 Jews killed by the Nazis. How many are taught about the 12,000,000 Indians starved to death by Churchill?
The British history, in films, books, comics, and media, is all about Britain winning the war. Rarely is there any mention about the Commonwealth countries, nor the Europeans, soldiers and civilians (other than the Jews), killed in the war. And never are the British atrocities committed, in pursuit of the war, mentioned.

The same still applies to modern day warfare, and any mention of war crimes, committed by British, is dismissed as vexatious. Yet those same people will move heaven and earth to bring charges against foreign soldiers.

I am surprised you haven't mentioned Cromwell.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Do you mean historically when the whole world was colonising, and committing the same "terrible things"?

Or historically when the whole world was colonising and committing the same normal things of the time?

Or do you mean historically because it was the British Empire that you want to single out for doing terrible things to make it sound like it was only the British that did the terrible things in a world where no-one else did?

What planet are you on?

I've noticed many of your replies to people have a very defensive edge to them.

What's the title of the thread? To which empire does it refer?

My response is therefore going to be slightly or more specifically directed to the BRITISH EMPIRE.

Have people and nations across the globe done terrible things since year dot? Yes. That doesn't mean ... within a forum (Google what forum's are for) ... we can't discuss and debate more specifically.

I'm thinking about starting a thread regarding unions in the UK and have they been in the main a positive or negative thing. I'll await your input in that thread 'HEY, DON'T OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE UNIONS?!? WHY ARE YOU SINGLING OUT THE UK?!?!?'

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

What's the title of the thread? To which empire does it refer?

My response is therefore going to be slightly or more specifically directed to the BRITISH EMPIRE.
'

People either don't read the title of the thread (which is extremely hard to believe, since they're attracted to the thread based on that title), or they want to divert the thread away from its intended subject because they want to air brush out the bits that they dislike.
Or they're trying to excuse the atrocities of the British based on the 'whataboutery' that other nations were as bad.
Maybe they think that atrocities are OK, if everyone can be considered as equally culpable.

 

[Trazor]

I wrote it.

Well yes, obviously.

If you misconstrue what someone has wrote, I suggest the fault lies with your misinterpretation.

It's very difficult sometimes to convey your thoughts to the written word, it quite often, is construed differently by the reader.

Perhaps your stay in France has blunted your linguistic skill, and your ability to avoid ambiguities.

 

[durhamplumber]

they want to air brush out the bits that they dislike

Or in your case “airbrush” ignore,turn a blind eye to,,,any positives and show,your usual negative bias to UK

 

[durhamplumber]

Maybe they think that atrocities are OK

Do not talk shíte

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

It's very difficult sometimes to convey your thoughts to the written word, it quite often, is construed differently by the reader.

Perhaps your stay in France has blunted your linguistic skill, and your ability to avoid ambiguities.

More likely our recent disagreements have motivated you to intentionally misconstrue what I wrote, and what I intended it to convey.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Do not talk shíte

A habit I've picked up from you, I'm afraid.
And from trazor maybe, intentionally misconstruing something that another has written.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Or in your case “airbrush” ignore,turn a blind eye to,,,any positives and show,your usual negative bias to UK

You mean like others air brush, ignore, turn a blind eye, etc to the negatives and only show the positives?
Or maybe applying a bit of balance, as everyone appeared to be ignoring the negatives.

 

[durhamplumber]

Or maybe applying a bit of balance

That would be a first for you

 

[durhamplumber]

A habit I've picked up from you,

Rather worrying from a person who fancies himself a teacher

 

[transam]

Rather worrying from a person who fancies himself a teacher

blimey a teacher

perhaps a history teacher

specialist subject Vichy France and the rise and fall of the 3rd reich