Should Britain apologize for its colonial past?

Should Britain apologize for its colonial past?

Apologize=regret but not praise

Its colonial past: only negative aspects? (Wars, white supremacy, hunger, religious conversion)

Apologize to whom? The locals, their heads of state, The Commonwealth

Why? To soothe tensions, to repair the past

Guerre des Malouines: The Falklands (1982)

Apologize: to ask for forgiveness, admit one’s guilt, to make an apology

India: “The jewel of the crown”

British Empire: “The empire on which the sun never sets” (1922 when British Empire was the biggest one in the world).

Previous British Prime Minister David Cameron has been criticized for not apologizing for the Jallianwala massacre in India. Nowadays, “The empire on which the sun never sets” is subject to discussion. The colonial past of Britain and the way the British conquered their lands are being questioned.

Should British politicians apologize for colonialism?

As a result of colonialism, Britain’s political, legal, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. However the behaviour of Britain towards their territories has been criticized. The torture and abuse committed by British colonial officers against Kenyans in the 1950s is very representative. In this case, apologizing to the locals would be a nice way to soothe the tensions and eventually a wish to seek revenge of Britain’s former colonies. Nevertheless, such an action would assure the fact that colonialism has only been negative for the conquered territories.

Indeed there bad events as well as good events. The influence of Britain all around the world has allowed them to adopt the role of global policeman, insuring peace. Furthermore, colonialism has lead to development, creating jobs for the locals inhabitants. Indian Gandhi, who went to university in Britain is a good example that education in the West was avalaible to rich Indians. Finally, Camron has explained that it would be wrong to reach back into history.

As a conclusion, it is obvious that British colonialism has helped develop the colonies but apologizing would make relationship between Britain and its former colonies better.

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