Is Britain to blame for world's problems?

Don't worry, I'm not blaming anyone. Just a good article on BBC. Read both the point and counterpoint. Both good arguments. Interesting read. What are your thoughts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12992540

I can see where the author is coming from. And yes, most likely, it was Britain's fault. Except that all the people responsible for all the global colinisation and their actions are long dead. Its irrational to hold Britain accountable today.

I'd say it was Europe in general but I think western Europe would be more accurate.

Its Europes fault in general...

But I don't see Cameron getting ellected again if he said that, the english are very proud of their empire.

Its Europes fault in general...

But I don't see Cameron getting ellected again if he said that, the english are very proud of their empire.

Fundai

[QUOTE="Fundai"]

Its Europes fault in general...

But I don't see Cameron getting ellected again if he said that, the english are very proud of their empire.

Wolls

lol

Well look at it this way: If it wasnt for your bloody conquring, Canada wouldnt exist :D

... But neither would the USA...Your right, you are horrible... :P

I wouldn't say it's Britain specifically, colonialism was a pretty bad system but they weren't alone in it. They were simply the most sucessful country, in reality all of Europe, and by extension their colonial descendents, deserve the blame.

EDIT: I can't believe I actually agree with Cameron on something, if even partially.

I can see where the author is coming from. And yes, most likely, it was Britain's fault. Except that all the people responsible for all the global colinisation and their actions are long dead. Its irrational to hold Britain accountable today.

XaosII

Well the Empire lasted until the 1980s if I remember, that's not exactly everyone responsible. Since those who kept the empire going are as responsible as those who started it.

[QUOTE="Fundai"]

Its Europes fault in general...

But I don't see Cameron getting ellected again if he said that, the english are very proud of their empire.

Wolls

Its Europes fault in general...

But I don't see Cameron getting ellected again if he said that, the english are very proud of their empire.

Fundai

[QUOTE="Fundai"]

Its Europes fault in general...

But I don't see Cameron getting ellected again if he said that, the english are very proud of their empire.

xTheExploited

Cool I would too. Not very often you see a politician speaking what they actually think

I find Thompson's claim that Britian somehow set the precedent of violence in its colonies to be a laughable one. Surely the myth of the noble savage was put to bed decades ago?MetalGear_Ninty

Well the whole palestine/Israel nonsense was because of the british.

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"]I find Thompson's claim that Britian somehow set the precedent of violence in its colonies to be a laughable one. Surely the myth of the noble savage was put to bed decades ago?Espada12

Well the who palestine/Israel nonsense was because of the british.

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"]I find Thompson's claim that Britian somehow set the precedent of violence in its colonies to be a laughable one. Surely the myth of the noble savage was put to bed decades ago?MetalGear_Ninty

Well the who palestine/Israel nonsense was because of the british.

Well you can't blame one party but you can blame the one in power at the time. Anyway, I see what you are saying, there's good and there's bad, I believe thompson was focusing on the bad though. I'm not sure of the extent the british had on my country when they were here, I only see remnants of the old colonial buildings around and our style of government is that of the british (which has been detrimental to us more than anything else.)

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"][QUOTE="Espada12"]

Well the who palestine/Israel nonsense was because of the british.

Espada12

Well you can't blame one party but you can blame the one in power at the time. Anyway, I see what you are saying, there's good and there's bad, I believe thompson was focusing on the bad though. I'm not sure of the extent the british had on my country when they were here, I only see remnants of the old colonial buildings around and our style of government is that of the british (which has been detrimental to us more than anything else.)

Which country are you talking about?MetalGear_Ninty

Trinidad.

Well they did draw up those terrible territories in the middle east, which is one of the major problems today. But it is kinda pointless to point fingers from something well over 60 years ago.

you have to blame someone

No, silly. America is to blame for everything bad in the history of the world, from the exctinction of the dinoaurs to the crisis in Japan.

In all seriousness, yes, Britain has a large part in being the root cause of the world's problems. They're not the sole cause though, as most of Europe also had a hand in it.

All of todays problems can be attributed to Britain (and France):

Division of the Ottoman Empire after WW1.

---------

Every ethnic conflict in the Middle East: Britain's fault.

Every religious conflict in the Middle East: Britain's fault.

Israel-Palestine BS: Britain's fault.

Lebanon Civil War between Christians and Muslims: France's fault.

No, although we are responsible for much of the world's awesomeness. Even today, wherever square gives way to cool you can be sure it was a Briton who blazed the trail.

They were simply the most sucessful country, in reality all of Europe, and by extension their colonial descendents, deserve the blame.theone86

I agree with David Cameron, but not only Britain but Western Europe as a whole; I'll specifically point out my home country, Belgium.

Nick Lloyd seems to have the idea that providing other cultures with "Western thinking" was an ultimate gift, but that is to come to agreement that all other thinking was less than and or inaccurate. Where would the world be without imperialism? Who knows, but I can guarantee the issues in African countries and between Pakistan & India would not be as large as they are.

I mention Africa because of the colonists had created boundariesand borders where there were none before in doing so they created countries and picked which tribe would be in charge over the other (based on physical looks ie. light vs dark, tall vs short, nose width). When the Europeans left the, those same European rules were in place. One tribe would discriminate against the other, massacre the other, and cause civil war. True they may have been fighting before, but most lived in peace with minor incidents, but nothing like what's going on now.

Interesting link, but this link inside the link I found WAY more interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12355740

The world is such a messed up place at times you can't blame any one country. That IS how WWII was started afterall lol

I really dislike the British Empire. I thought they were a bunch of evil people who were prepared to use unnessary force to take what's not theres. Perfect example the war of the Golden Stool. The more I researched into this matter the angrier I got because of the brutality of the British Empire.

I really dislike the British Empire. I thought they were a bunch of evil people who were prepared to use unnessary force to take what's not theres. Perfect example the war of the Golden Stool. The more I researched into this matter the angrier I got because of the brutality of the British Empire.

nickz_fpk

yes, yes it is *looks around* *leaves*

Compare the former British colonies to former Spanish, French, and Portugese ones. I think Britain, despite her flaws, has left a bit better of a legacy.

Oh and eventually countries need to grow up and stop playing the blame game with the old colonial powers. This is the 21st century, take a little responsiblility.

Everyone is to blame, not just Britain alone. Even so, it's not the people of Britain, more the government.

The majority of Western Europe was to blame but in the other parts of the world, especially Asia, had its own skirmishes between brutal Empires.

What about the Spanish Empire?

The Ottoman Empire?

It wasnt Britian alone it was the Euro empires mainly.

Of course, everything wrong in the world was caused by white males with authority... I could have told you that...

Edit: its a joke, BTW, so don't freak out...

What about the Spanish Empire?

The Ottoman Empire?

It wasnt Britian alone it was the Euro empires mainly.

[QUOTE="thespywholied"]

What about the Spanish Empire?

The Ottoman Empire?

It wasnt Britian alone it was the Euro empires mainly.

lordreaven

Portugal, Britian , France , Spain , Dutch and Russia ( if you count them as European) mainly.

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="thespywholied"]

What about the Spanish Empire?

The Ottoman Empire?

It wasnt Britian alone it was the Euro empires mainly.

Portugal, Britian , France , Spain , Dutch and Russia ( if you count them as European) mainly.

All of todays problems can be attributed to Britain (and France):

Division of the Ottoman Empire after WW1.

---------

Every ethnic conflict in the Middle East: Britain's fault.

Every religious conflict in the Middle East: Britain's fault.

Israel-Palestine BS: Britain's fault.

Lebanon Civil War between Christians and Muslims: France's fault.

Buttons1990

Or, you could blame the people who are blowing **** up and murdering people. But no, it's obviously Britains fault for poorly dividing countries 90 years ago.

[QUOTE="nickz_fpk"]

I really dislike the British Empire. I thought they were a bunch of evil people who were prepared to use unnessary force to take what's not theres. Perfect example the war of the Golden Stool. The more I researched into this matter the angrier I got because of the brutality of the British Empire.

lordreaven

I agree with David Cameron, but not only Britain but Western Europe as a whole; I'll specifically point out my home country, Belgium.

Nick Lloyd seems to have the idea that providing other cultures with "Western thinking" was an ultimate gift, but that is to come to agreement that all other thinking was less than and or inaccurate. Where would the world be without imperialism? Who knows, but I can guarantee the issues in African countries and between Pakistan & India would not be as large as they are.

I mention Africa because of the colonists had created boundariesand borders where there were none before in doing so they created countries and picked which tribe would be in charge over the other (based on physical looks ie. light vs dark, tall vs short, nose width). When the Europeans left the, those same European rules were in place. One tribe would discriminate against the other, massacre the other, and cause civil war. True they may have been fighting before, but most lived in peace with minor incidents, but nothing like what's going on now.

lowkey254

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="nickz_fpk"]

I really dislike the British Empire. I thought they were a bunch of evil people who were prepared to use unnessary force to take what's not theres. Perfect example the war of the Golden Stool. The more I researched into this matter the angrier I got because of the brutality of the British Empire.

lowkey254

If it was not for the Balfour Declaration and the Sykes Picot Agreement, we may have a much less hostile middle east, and a less divided one at that.

That being said, between Britain and France, according to my history, Arabs would far more want to deal with the British, then the French. at least the British acknowledged us as people to a greater degree then Imperial France did.

Only reason why in WWII Arabs in high numbers supported German or American help was mainly due to the fact of "they gotta be better then the devils we know now".

[QUOTE="lowkey254"]

I agree with David Cameron, but not only Britain but Western Europe as a whole; I'll specifically point out my home country, Belgium.

Nick Lloyd seems to have the idea that providing other cultures with "Western thinking" was an ultimate gift, but that is to come to agreement that all other thinking was less than and or inaccurate. Where would the world be without imperialism? Who knows, but I can guarantee the issues in African countries and between Pakistan & India would not be as large as they are.

I mention Africa because of the colonists had created boundariesand borders where there were none before in doing so they created countries and picked which tribe would be in charge over the other (based on physical looks ie. light vs dark, tall vs short, nose width). When the Europeans left the, those same European rules were in place. One tribe would discriminate against the other, massacre the other, and cause civil war. True they may have been fighting before, but most lived in peace with minor incidents, but nothing like what's going on now.

MetalGear_Ninty

[QUOTE="lowkey254"]

I agree with David Cameron, but not only Britain but Western Europe as a whole; I'll specifically point out my home country, Belgium.

Nick Lloyd seems to have the idea that providing other cultures with "Western thinking" was an ultimate gift, but that is to come to agreement that all other thinking was less than and or inaccurate. Where would the world be without imperialism? Who knows, but I can guarantee the issues in African countries and between Pakistan & India would not be as large as they are.

I mention Africa because of the colonists had created boundariesand borders where there were none before in doing so they created countries and picked which tribe would be in charge over the other (based on physical looks ie. light vs dark, tall vs short, nose width). When the Europeans left the, those same European rules were in place. One tribe would discriminate against the other, massacre the other, and cause civil war. True they may have been fighting before, but most lived in peace with minor incidents, but nothing like what's going on now.