[Cal.]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

As with anything there's a lot more to it than the black and white (literally, there are entire degree courses on Empire/Colonialism that I imagine still barely scratch the surface. It will always be the case that real history is far more complex than the buzz topics and phrases... And the most simple reality is that human history is incredibly murky. We've not been very good to each other.

LOOSELY though - it's very difficult to take the stance that the British Empire (or any other empire) was in any way a good or benevolent thing... Empires from the beginning of history to right now have ultimately been about selfish resource hoarding by wealthy people, to the detriment of pretty much everyone else, but affecting some far more than others.

Its also a pretty spectacularly ill considered take the stance that "Britain heroic" for being one of the first to outlaw slavery or for making efforts to help end it in other places too. I mean yes, they did do those things, but ... They wouldn't have been able to "heroically" stop trading slaves if they'd never traded slaves in the first place, and making amends by utilising the Royal Navy to help stop slavers wasn't heroic either, it was really the least they could do at the time as part of making amends.

Imagine someone keeping a human locked in their basement for years, and then one night having an epiphany and letting them go the next day... Would anyone say "Wow a hero!!". It seems unlikely. And if that person dedicated the rest of their life to getting other people out of basements that would be the right thing - but really the least they could do. And you wouldn't expect the person who had been in their basement to say, "You know what? You're actually an OK guy!".

Then there's the idea that the Empire "brought civilisation" to the world which of course, it didn't. It brought capitalism to the world, and people who equate capitalism with civilisation might see it that way... But it really all rests on that old premise that before the Empire brought order, people in colonial areas were "Savages" with no culture when of course that wasn't the case at all, it was just different culture, and thus rejected as being culture at all.

Agree with all of this!

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

I’m moving to Australia next year and can safely say the only thing I’m going to miss is my family. This country is the pits

Not your friends?
I'm no major fan of this country but I have lived overseas and its not quite rhe Mecca its made out to be. Same ****, different place comes to mind. Everywhere has its issues, history and rubbish parts.

You make wherever you the best you can make it, no place is perfect.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

I’m moving to Australia next year and can safely say the only thing I’m going to miss is my family. This country is the pits

Having lived in Oz, its no different

[Glenn.]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Not your friends?
I'm no major fan of this country but I have lived overseas and its not quite rhe Mecca its made out to be. Same ****, different place comes to mind. Everywhere has its issues, history and rubbish parts.

You make wherever you the best you can make it, no place is perfect.

A lot of my friends will visit whereas a lot of my family wouldn’t.

I’ve tried to make the best of things. My prospects are far greater moving down under than they ever will be here.

[bots]

i've travelled extensively in my time, even living abroad for several years. The satisfaction that you get is directly related to the people around you. Things like climate follow close behind, but who runs the state and government is way, way down the list

[Cherie]

Doesn’t Australia have very strict rules on Immigration? Ones that the UK ary trying to emulate ....I have to laugh

[Glenn.]

What’s so funny?

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

A lot of my friends will visit whereas a lot of my family wouldn’t.

I’ve tried to make the best of things. My prospects are far greater moving down under than they ever will be here.

Ah cool.

My friend went out there 14 years ago....he has loved it. Hope it all goes well for you.

[Niamh.]

What part are you going to Glenn?

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

A lot of my friends will visit whereas a lot of my family wouldn’t.

I’ve tried to make the best of things. My prospects are far greater moving down under than they ever will be here.

Are you a nurse or something?

[James]

I think we have a kind of tourist's eye about other countries - we see all the nice parts from the outside, but people living in those countries have to deal - like here - with all the minutiae of politics and the news that might cause division and upset.

Domestic issues in other countries don't usually make the news or have interest to people here.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by James

I think we have a kind of tourist's eye about other countries - we see all the nice parts from the outside, but people living in those countries have to deal - like here - with all the minutiae of politics and the news that might cause division and upset.

Domestic issues in other countries don't usually make the news or have interest to people here.

Very true we have had a place in Spain and while it’s lovely to visit..getting anything bureaucratic done is a nightmare…l



I think it can also work in reverse and show you how good things are and how much is done for minorities in this country like info messages in different languages….and free translators provided if you go for appt …be prepared to find your own and pay for your own in Spain

That said travel broadens the mind so there is that

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

What’s so funny?

It is somewhat ironic Glenn... Australia is culturally known to be both more racist and more homophobic than the UK. They're extremely strict on immigration and they take very few asylum seekers. It is sunnier though

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Are you a nurse or something?

Canada is the real GOAT for nurses though, they have (the equivalent of) something like a £75k average salary. Property prices are through the roof though. We've flirted with moving abroad as my wife could work more or less anywhere and make more than in the UK, and I can literally work from anywhere that has a laptop and an internet connection.

Teen doesn't want to leave her rubbish pals at her rubbish school though .

[Glenn.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

What part are you going to Glenn?

Brisbane. My partner has family out there.

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Are you a nurse or something?

No

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

Brisbane. My partner has family out there.



No

Best of luck with it, it's handy to have people out there while you get yourselves set up.

[Glenn.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Best of luck with it, it's handy to have people out there while you get yourselves set up.

We’re a bit spoilt for choice especially with accommodation. My other half has a guaranteed job when we go. He spent a couple of years out there working.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

We’re a bit spoilt for choice especially with accommodation. My other half has a guaranteed job when we go. He spent a couple of years out there working.

Ah that's brilliant, it will take the pressure off a bit. Life in the sunshine sounds good (especially this time of the year on this side of the world!)

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Ah that's brilliant, it will take the pressure off a bit. Life in the sunshine sounds good (especially this time of the year on this side of the world!)

YOu would not cope with the spiders Neem

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

YOu would not cope with the spiders Neem

I've been to Australia and I didn't meet a single Spider there

[bots]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I've been to Australia and I didn't meet a single Spider there

that you know of ........

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I've been to Australia and I didn't meet a single Spider there

They were pre warned

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

that you know of ........

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

It is somewhat ironic Glenn... Australia is culturally known to be both more racist and more homophobic than the UK. They're extremely strict on immigration and they take very few asylum seekers. It is sunnier though

Indeed .

[Glenn.]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

It is somewhat ironic Glenn... Australia is culturally known to be both more racist and more homophobic than the UK. They're extremely strict on immigration and they take very few asylum seekers. It is sunnier though

Correct it is sunnier. Work life balance is also superior to this country. And it’s something I want to do so it’s not really for anyone to criticise