'Our Colonial past'
 

First of all I am firmly against Imperialism, forceful occupations of other countries, forced repatriation, highland clearances, slavery, genocide of the aborigines, BNP etc etc...



Now onto my main question, does anybody think that if we hadn't done what we did in the past (for good or ill) we would probably be speaking French or Spanish now?

And also why is it always the United Kingdom that is stained with the image of imperialism? I thought the French, Spanish, Portugese and Dutch had also done similar? Is it because we were so good at it?

You missed out the Germans (in Africa).
The Romans had a stab at it, too. Not forgetting the Italians.

Well I could have but given the sensitive nature of some people on this forum and the proximity of a certain war yada yada yada I nought it was best not to. In fact I wish I never made this topic now.

"Is it because we were so good at it?"


yes the British Empire
what a time
I would run a nation. (if I had a Time Machine)



Vicky , Marc , Ammi and MTVN
would be my servants

Not French or Spanish I don't think, they wouldn't have tried to colonise another European, Christian power. And yes we are probably more associated with imperialism because we were more successful, our influence on the world was and is more evident today

I would lead the local people in a rebellion against your tyrannical rule

Well if my aunt had bollocks, would she be my uncle? No one will ever really know what language we'd be speaking, because it's impossible to know. Although English has been an evolving language over centuries, so it would take generations to wipe it out. Look at Welsh, for an example closer to home.

We are also the most hated because we were the last world empire that took over through force. There are arguments to be had about the US, but we were the last great conquering empire.

There were other empires that existed at the same time as ours, but not with our military capabilities and worldwide reach. That's it really.

It was only WWII and it's aftermath, that we started handing countries back, so our empire is still within living memory for lots of people around the world.

We were the largest empire in history, so we're the one that sticks in people's minds. Not to mention the empire began to fall less than a century ago, with the final nation being handed back in 1997 (Hong Kong).

You want to
go back to the days
when people had servants and slaves?
Like when India
was part of the empire?

Man plans, God laughs

Always thought the Mongol one was bigger.

I think Mongol was bigger, but we were in control of more nations, which would have made the British empire more influencial, it depends how you look at it, I guess :p

I would get Marc to lock you up


Then you would be shipped Down Under

Gambia

British shillings used


I would have a Palace.


http://www.thestujoecollection.com/i...6/gambiar2.jpg

So you do
advocate slavery, yes?
That is a shocking admission
to make, Arista

Follow your own star

No but if in a Time Machine and I went back
you must follow the way it went.

Oh ok, I see
Thank you
For clarifying your point

Nothing endures but change

Our colonial past and the exploitation of other lands is shameful, and yet everyone was doing it so it's hard to say.
It's been suggested that Britain may be sued for the historic abuses of the past in the carribean, I don't feel that's warranted.
Following the war we now know how it feels to be threatened and have a deeper understanding of what we did, and how things could be if that occured.

Well I'm certainly glad we're not speaking Irish anyway.