http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Man%27s_Burden
Until recently, I had never heard such a thing (when someone posted something about this on a particular social networking site). I think it is something to do with colonialism and some writings by Rudyard Kipling.
Here is what Wikipedia has had to say:
One view proposes that whites have an obligation to rule over, and encourage the cultural development of people from other cultural backgrounds until they can take their place in the world economically and socially. The term "the white man's burden" has been interpreted by some as racist, or possibly taken as a metaphor for a condescending view of "undeveloped" national culture and economic traditions, identified as a sense of European ascendancy which has been called "cultural imperialism". An alternative interpretation is the philanthropicview, common in Kipling's formative years, that the rich (whites) have a moral duty and obligation to help "the poor" (coloureds) "better" themselves whether the poor (coloureds) want the help or not.[15]
And...
Because of its theme and title, it has become emblematic both of Eurocentric racism and of Western aspirations to dominate the developing world.[8][9][10] A century after its publication, the poem still rouses strong emotions, and can be analyzed from a variety of perspectives.
However, this literature has drawn alot of criticism from others:
Until recently, I had never heard such a thing (when someone posted something about this on a particular social networking site). I think it is something to do with colonialism and some writings by Rudyard Kipling.
Here is what Wikipedia has had to say:
One view proposes that whites have an obligation to rule over, and encourage the cultural development of people from other cultural backgrounds until they can take their place in the world economically and socially. The term "the white man's burden" has been interpreted by some as racist, or possibly taken as a metaphor for a condescending view of "undeveloped" national culture and economic traditions, identified as a sense of European ascendancy which has been called "cultural imperialism". An alternative interpretation is the philanthropicview, common in Kipling's formative years, that the rich (whites) have a moral duty and obligation to help "the poor" (coloureds) "better" themselves whether the poor (coloureds) want the help or not.[15]
And...
Because of its theme and title, it has become emblematic both of Eurocentric racism and of Western aspirations to dominate the developing world.[8][9][10] A century after its publication, the poem still rouses strong emotions, and can be analyzed from a variety of perspectives.
However, this literature has drawn alot of criticism from others:
Several parodies and other of critical works have used themes or quotes collected from Kipling's poem. Early examples include Henry Labouchère's poem "The Brown Man's Burden," (1899)[23] and H. T. Johnson's April 1899 popular response, entitled "The Black Man's Burden". A “Black Man’s Burden Association” was organised with the goal of demonstrating that mistreatment of brown people in the Philippines was an extension of the mistreatment of black Americans at home.[24]
i myself, being from Australia, have been born and bred here - we learn about colonialism here in Australia and what has happened centuries ago in the Americas and Africa, as well as Asia. I agree that, yes, okay, I know Indigenous people worldwide have been through a lot, but not what is known as that some white people have had to pay their dues as well (see 'white slavery'). And on top of that, we are supposed to suffer from 'white guilt' as well.
Anyway, before I stray too much off track, what I can say is that that white people back then migrated to countries outside of Europe, probably with the intention of finding 'wealth' in other countries, and seeing groups of people they thought were 'poor' and in need of help, and they really thought they were trying to help. However, if I had to put myself in the 'shoes' (or minds) of these other peoples, it is obvious that they were so strongly accustomed to their way of life back then, and obviously have reason to believe it is interferance from the 'whites' because their own way of life, customs and traditions have been disrupted.
The unfortunate 'spin off' - racial conflict. Anyway, I could go on and on, but no amount of 'white guilt' is going to fix the problem, only that both parties try as much as possible to mend their differences and move forward.
cheers,
Night Owl
The unfortunate 'spin off' - racial conflict. Anyway, I could go on and on, but no amount of 'white guilt' is going to fix the problem, only that both parties try as much as possible to mend their differences and move forward.
cheers,
Night Owl
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What is your own take on this situation? How do you rise above the rot?