Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Colonialism

     It seems to me that the only justifications for colonialism can be found from the perspective of those who are doing it. Supporting it as good or necessary is simply ethnocentric and selfish and reflects a closed or limited mindset incapable of accepting another way of life as legitimate. Although the debate touched on some excellent points I must defer to the an excellent novel which portrays colonialism from the perspective of one colonized this can be found in Nervous Conditions.
     In Nervous Conditions the colonial white people have set up a mission in a nearby town and from its presence the seeds of destruction are sown. In the novel almost everyone exposed to the "Englishness" is impacted negatively in either a physical or mental manner. The presence of the mission begins to drain traditionalism and independence from the local peoples as it fractures families and alters worldviews.
     The semi-autobiographical novel is an excellent example of the impact of colonialism, societies should be allowed to have their independence in such a way that they are free from undesired outside influence. Even if this influence  may be to their benefit there can always be unseen side effects which cause just as much if not more harm than good.

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