The Empire Pays Back...£75 Trillion...
Discussion
Where else but C4, last night: an investigation into the legitimacy of claims that British institutions both public and private should atone for their inherited associations with colonial slavery during the 16th, 17th & 18th centuries.
That Britain's wealth appeared to be entirely the fruit of such cruel, forced labour, the country should issue a formal apology, not only to the original 'source' countries but also in the direction of our own, Afro-Carribean descendants.
Furthermore, following the analyses of three compnesation solicitors, we were able to estimate the compounded national debt owed, some 7.5 trillion pounds, although quite how this restitution might transpire was not easy to specify.
Corporate guilt was exemplified by august financial institution J P Morgan from the United States who had publicly acknowledged historical benefit from this vile trade in human misery and sought atonement via the bestwoment of beneficent scholarly endowment upon suitably disadvantaged, African Americans.
Our determined investigator, himself a doctor of African ancestry, was encouraged by this: the rampant disadvantage he recognised in contemporary British society which still afflicted the black man ~ whether it be a relatively low paid occupation or {seemingly excusable} lapse into criminality ~ was cause enough that reparation via financial compensation appeared to be the only equitable solution.
The Germans had their sombre, myriad obelisk memorial to the holocaust and had indeed made financial gestures so what was Britain's problem?
Thus began his 'tour of shame' around old London Town, pointing out the corporate, slave trade-associated geneologies that condemned the institution on Threadneedle St and a couple of our major banks, the fact of parliamentarian involvement and even Royal ascent, albeit 4-450 years ago.
So emboldened but frustrated by the apparent edifice of societal denial, our man, enlisting the help of a friendly artist, projected an image of a slave woman's face, framed by chains and sugar cane, upon the walls of Covent Garden. A catharsis of sorts, I presumed.
With this kind of rationale stalking the halls of the liberal intelligentsia, is it any wonder this country feels so increasingly emasculated from any sense of cohesive nationhood?
Extreme, desperate bollox.
(Edited to enquire as to why, precisely, my spelling of 'bollox' is being rewritten in textspeak with an 'x' at the end? I am a categoric rejector of Burberry!}
>> Edited by derestrictor on Tuesday 16th August 09:36
That Britain's wealth appeared to be entirely the fruit of such cruel, forced labour, the country should issue a formal apology, not only to the original 'source' countries but also in the direction of our own, Afro-Carribean descendants.
Furthermore, following the analyses of three compnesation solicitors, we were able to estimate the compounded national debt owed, some 7.5 trillion pounds, although quite how this restitution might transpire was not easy to specify.
Corporate guilt was exemplified by august financial institution J P Morgan from the United States who had publicly acknowledged historical benefit from this vile trade in human misery and sought atonement via the bestwoment of beneficent scholarly endowment upon suitably disadvantaged, African Americans.
Our determined investigator, himself a doctor of African ancestry, was encouraged by this: the rampant disadvantage he recognised in contemporary British society which still afflicted the black man ~ whether it be a relatively low paid occupation or {seemingly excusable} lapse into criminality ~ was cause enough that reparation via financial compensation appeared to be the only equitable solution.
The Germans had their sombre, myriad obelisk memorial to the holocaust and had indeed made financial gestures so what was Britain's problem?
Thus began his 'tour of shame' around old London Town, pointing out the corporate, slave trade-associated geneologies that condemned the institution on Threadneedle St and a couple of our major banks, the fact of parliamentarian involvement and even Royal ascent, albeit 4-450 years ago.
So emboldened but frustrated by the apparent edifice of societal denial, our man, enlisting the help of a friendly artist, projected an image of a slave woman's face, framed by chains and sugar cane, upon the walls of Covent Garden. A catharsis of sorts, I presumed.
With this kind of rationale stalking the halls of the liberal intelligentsia, is it any wonder this country feels so increasingly emasculated from any sense of cohesive nationhood?
Extreme, desperate bollox.
(Edited to enquire as to why, precisely, my spelling of 'bollox' is being rewritten in textspeak with an 'x' at the end? I am a categoric rejector of Burberry!}
>> Edited by derestrictor on Tuesday 16th August 09:36
minornut said:
Extreme, desperate bollox.
Quite!
I only saw 5 minutes of this tripe before I had to change channels for fear of putting my chair through the screen.
Indeed. I didn't watch the programme after having a read a preview in the newspaper which left me in no doubt that I would be needing a new TV afterwards.
He can stick his idea so far up his ar$e it winks at him when he cleans his teeth. To$$er.
Slavery was obviously morally wrong, but that does not mean that Britain should pay compensation now.
After all it was over two centuries ago and Britian was a leader in the fight to ban slavery in the early 19th century.
As for the effects on the descendents of the slaves perhaps they are better off than if their ancestors had stayed in Africa.
After all those in America are far richer, and those in the carribean live in a tropical paradise.
After all it was over two centuries ago and Britian was a leader in the fight to ban slavery in the early 19th century.
As for the effects on the descendents of the slaves perhaps they are better off than if their ancestors had stayed in Africa.
After all those in America are far richer, and those in the carribean live in a tropical paradise.
Ahh yes, the liberal intelligentsia, those who drive new cars and live in £300,000 houses and at the same time decry the dubious policies over the last 500 years that have allowed such unfettered prosperity to take place. Complete cretins! Its probably best not to mention the inter-tribal genocide that has taken place in africa over a similar time period, or point out the fact that most of the slaves were sold by their own kin. When it comes to right-on liberal debate facts have no real status, its all about who can make the most spurious, esoteric argument. Extreme desperate bollox indeed....
I want compensation from those bloody Italians who invaded the UK in about 50BC! Rome did alright out of its empire, after all.
I didn't see the programme but it sounds like I would have hated it. If it had been presented as food-for-thought then perhaps it could have been interesting.
There can be no denying that the Romans improved things overall in Britain. Likewise, the British Empire improved things where it was. Schools, hospitals and decent infrastructure were introduced.
The Boers, who settled in South Africa, went there because there was nobody else there. Perhaps it was only after they had improved things that the indigenous population decided they wanted the land back?
I'm sure I remember reading recently that at least one or two African states wish they were back under British rule.
I didn't see the programme but it sounds like I would have hated it. If it had been presented as food-for-thought then perhaps it could have been interesting.
There can be no denying that the Romans improved things overall in Britain. Likewise, the British Empire improved things where it was. Schools, hospitals and decent infrastructure were introduced.
The Boers, who settled in South Africa, went there because there was nobody else there. Perhaps it was only after they had improved things that the indigenous population decided they wanted the land back?
I'm sure I remember reading recently that at least one or two African states wish they were back under British rule.
rsvmilly said:
I want compensation from those bloody Italians who invaded the UK in about 50BC! Rome did alright out of its empire, after all.
chris watton said:
How far do we need to go back for this, can we ask for compenstaion from Italy, due to the Roman Empire invading??? or france for 1066??? This is unbelievable PC nonsense!!!!!
What did the Romans ever do for us?
How about all these PC f
kwits try suing all their brethren's descendants in Africa who were so instrumental in rounding people up to be sold to European slave traders?What he failed to point out was that slavery was rife in Africa, amonst africans. When the westerners turned up, we simply paid more for the slaves than the local tribes... So perhaps he should ask the african tribes that profited from the slave trade for that £7.5 Trillion???
Also Britain was not the only empire that was involved in the slave trade - the rest of europe are just as guilty. We did however abolish slavery and then police the ban....
Also Britain was not the only empire that was involved in the slave trade - the rest of europe are just as guilty. We did however abolish slavery and then police the ban....
derestrictor said:
Extreme, desperate bollox.
EXACTLY!!! Apologistic liberalistic socialist bullshit!!! Of course no-one mentioned all the african chieftains and minor potentates who were happy to sell their tribe into slavery for a bunch of beads!!!!???
How about if we Scots were to hold you immigrant english to ransom for "our" oil, never mind the clearances and other atrocities!!!
Hey chaps we're in the 21st century!!! Get used to it and bite the feckin bullet!!!
simpo two said:
Pah, you take civilisation to the natives and this is what happens. When the Brits pull out, the whole lot collapses in a bloody mess and they go back x00 years to where they were...
I'd really like to give these losers who feed on guilt a good slap.
We are not discussing the rights and wrongs of the British empire(which I think made a positive contribution to the countries ruled), but the slave trade.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Whilst I agree that the premise of this programme is ridiculous and a load of bollox, I do think a lot of comments here show zero knowledge of African history and culture. A great deal of assumptions are being made about the culture of these people, assuming that there would never have been progress 'if not for the western colonialists' which is not true.
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