British Empire Compared to ‘ISIS on Steroids’ after UK Public Says It Is ‘Proud’ of Colonial Past
EUROPE, 25 Jan 2016
Adam Withnall – The Independent
A survey found 43% of Britons think the Empire was ‘generally speaking… a good thing’.
5 of the worst atrocities carried out by the British Empire
Indian battalions were among the first sent into the battlefields of Flanders – and died in their thousands fighting for the British Empire (File pic)
20 Jan 2016 – After a new poll found that the British public is generally proud of the country’s imperial history, people have started comparing the worst atrocities of the Empire to the present-day horrors of ISIS.
The sun famously never set on the British Empire at its height in 1922 – but its rule was enforced through the starvation of local populaces, brutal detention camps, mass executions and slavery.
A survey released on Tuesday by YouGov found that 43 per cent of respondents thought that “generally speaking”, the British Empire was a good thing. Just 19 per cent said it was a bad thing, with the rest saying they didn’t know or take a position.
Coincidentally, on the same day the UN released a major report into the latest violence committed against civilians by ISIS in Iraq. It detailed “staggering” evidence of executions by shooting, beheading, burning alive and bulldozing, as well as abductions, sexual violence against women and the abuse of child soldiers.
Reacting with surprise to the YouGov results, some on social media suggested the British Empire was “the ISIS of its time”, while other’s said ISIS is “nowhere near the level of death and destruction of British colonialism”.
https://twitter.com/rabihalameddine/status/506095874691186688/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
https://twitter.com/1LaneOnly/status/689506965727350784/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
https://twitter.com/Lad87Red/status/689426973374832640?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
@1LaneOnly @bywordlight @WritersofColour @renireni @bungatuffie IS r nowhere near the level of death and destruction of British colonialism
— Ami (@AquarianTribe) January 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/KerrieThornhill/status/688327539987714048?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
@1LaneOnly @AmiRobo @bywordlight the difference now is the masses can see how empires are built and it disgusts us! WW2 changed everything
— JB (@jayjaybenito) January 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/JEALFC29/status/689506175902179329?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
Among others, Charles Frith posted an image of British soldiers putting down the Singapore Mutiny in 1915, with the caption “ISIS bastards”. A well-documented incident, 47 Muslim Indian soldiers were executed by court martial after taking up arms against officers, possibly in protest at being sent to fight the Muslim Caliph of the Ottoman Empire.
Others expressed their shock that so many said they were “proud” of colonialism in the YouGov findings, with some suggesting this could be down to the fact that the details of the period are not widely taught in British schools.
It is a matter of some shame to me to learn that almost half of my fellow citizens are "proud" of the British Empire @Independent
— George Galloway MP (@georgegalloway) January 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/RobertJSomynne/status/689766743464660993?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
We will never be able to defeat terrorism until we understand our own history both the good and the very badhttps://t.co/tCtAPKVt9e
— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@Harryslaststand) January 20, 2016
That issue was raised by Michael Gove during his spell has Education Minister, while Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn has led calls for children to be taught about the suffering the Empire caused.
Go to Original – independent.co.uk
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Frederick Lugard, the British panjandrum in Northern Nigeria committed massacre in Saturi in March 1906 and Hadeija in May 1906. While the record of the Saturi is more available that of Hadeija is hardly traceable because of its extend and horror. Lugard did not resign; he was recalled by the Foreign Office.
There is more in my forthcoming book, RECONCILIATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: THE PUBLIC APOLOGY APPROACH. In Chapter One, I compare and contrast the British Colonial government in Northern Nigeria and Boko Haram on the issue of denying the people of western education .