Would that not be preferable? Is there something inherently bad about indigenous tribal society? Sure, Africa is (mostly) a mess these days, but that's entirely to do with a long history of colonialism, drugs, and corruption. All of which sprang forward when boats starting hitting their beaches.
Whether 'tribalism' was or is 'successful' is debatable. The fact is that the European powers (and the Ottoman Empire) were bound to interfere. That is the way things were done back then. Competition. Evolution. It's all the natural order. Things are truly a mess. Darfur, anyone? However, a lot of 'tribes' gladly handed over their enemies to the Spanish and Portugese slave traders. Let's not paint a revisionist history of the slave trade.
I guess if the Africans had ZERO exposure to the modern world they would be relatively happy. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. The true root of all evil is the television because now even the poorest of them can see what they are missing (or what they think they are missing.)
As most Spanish and Portuguese colonies were located in the Caribbean and South America, I think it'd be kind of difficult to argue that Spain and Portugal were all that successful at dealing with 'conquered people'.
They wiped them out! That's much easier than making reservations for them. Even the Americans 'dealt' with most of their problem. We can shed tears for what happened, but the fact is you and I were no alive, nor were any of the 'victims.' How far back in history must we go with grievances? The Druids?
This statement is so vague I guess you can twist it into truth, but it's pretty intellectually dishonest. I'd offer Japan, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Greece, Russia, Egypt, etc.
What has Araby done in the past 5-600 years? It's more the shame that the Tigris/Eurphrates were the cradle of civilization. Look what they could have accomplished. When Marco Polo made his rounds, China was far in advance of Europe. Let's explore why both those cultures imploded for clues so that it doesn't happen to us. Japan was culturally rich but very backward until Captain Perry showed them how behind the times they were! Last time I looked, Scandinavia and Greece were in Europe, so is Russia (although I'd hardly hold them up as a 'successful' state these days.) Is there another new map? Egypt? Perhaps 2,500 years ago, not now.
I think separation of church is state is incredibly important to modern government, but historically? There's no such thing as secular colonialism, dude.
Colonialism is a modern term, dude. They used to call it conquest. The fact that the Pope, or by extension the crown's of Europe, had to approve of said conquests was a fact of life then. England was well into its secular throes by the time Canada began to grow.
Way, way off. Here are some examples: Irrigation, Beer, the plough, silk, cement, the noodle, the compass, gunpowder, porcelain, inoculation, the pharmacy, the paper mill, eye glasses, the university, coffee, Anastasia, the abacus, the toothbrush, the steam turbine, the mechanical clock, and so on.
??? You're just confused. The steam turbine was British. Gunpowder: Chinese. Compass? Cement? 90% of the inventions are from Europe or their 'colonies.' I suggest you look it up. From the lowly zipper to the most important creation of all (the printing press): Europe or its former colonies.
Europe had a "Dark Ages" for almost 1,000 years. Most every invention happened in China or the Middle East -- ever consider why we use 'Arabic' numbers?
Yes, yes. But it is the Middle East and China that entered their 'dark ages' just as Europe was emerging. We can all debate the Church's role in that - just ask Copernicus.
Our way of living is vague and undefined, and ever-evolving. We should -- and do; have you seen the 'test' for newcomers? --ask for societal integration, but a monoculture never did anything good for anyone.
Agreed.
You're more than a little bit racist.
