Discourse on Colonialism
The author tries to suggest a relationship between civilization and colonization. Not a positive one but a negative connection and I totally agree with it. He describes colonialism as very brutal and an immoral action even though the imperialists' aim was actually to improve the "civilization" . He uses a few examples like the Hitler's rules and the Europe empires and the power they had by colonizing other nations. However, the goal to educate uncivilized nation contradicts to what actually transpired. They made the colonized people became savages. Had this supreme power succeeded in improving civilization? I think instead of seeing improvement in the civilization, it seems that the colonizer indeed turned themselves into barbarous in order to control the colonies; thus downgraded themselves into the same level as the colonies: uncivilized and savages.
Edward Said on "Orientalism"
This video depicts the concerns over the true definition of orientalism. People usually misinterpret the meaning of the words or sometimes they have few stereotypes on orientalism. For instance, they might think that the word renders an underdeveloped civilization or it symbolizes violence.
The White Man's Burden
The White Man's burden is a poem that was written to actuate the United States to occupy Philippines after Spanish-American War 1898. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, it defines white man's burden as:
To Philippine:
The author tries to suggest a relationship between civilization and colonization. Not a positive one but a negative connection and I totally agree with it. He describes colonialism as very brutal and an immoral action even though the imperialists' aim was actually to improve the "civilization" . He uses a few examples like the Hitler's rules and the Europe empires and the power they had by colonizing other nations. However, the goal to educate uncivilized nation contradicts to what actually transpired. They made the colonized people became savages. Had this supreme power succeeded in improving civilization? I think instead of seeing improvement in the civilization, it seems that the colonizer indeed turned themselves into barbarous in order to control the colonies; thus downgraded themselves into the same level as the colonies: uncivilized and savages.
Edward Said on "Orientalism"
This video depicts the concerns over the true definition of orientalism. People usually misinterpret the meaning of the words or sometimes they have few stereotypes on orientalism. For instance, they might think that the word renders an underdeveloped civilization or it symbolizes violence.
The White Man's Burden
The White Man's burden is a poem that was written to actuate the United States to occupy Philippines after Spanish-American War 1898. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, it defines white man's burden as:
"The supposed or presumed responsibility of white people to govern and impart their culture to nonwhite people, often advanced as a justification for European colonialism.Also, from Brewer's Dictionary, it defines the phrase as:
" imperialist's duty to educate the uncivilized."It appears that the imperialist feels responsible (burden) to improve the civilization by educating the uncivilized. Using this reason- Responsibility-, they started the idea of colonizing other nations. Besides, when we read through the poem, Kipling encouraged to send their best people (armies) to help the uncivilized people and serve their needs even though it will be a tough job. Based on my understanding, he also persuaded white people to calm the panic in the nation they colonized and to stop the famine and sickness. However, he also advised white people to not put high hopes on the nation they've colonized and help as the colonized people aren't yet civilized. Overall, this poem portrays an imperialist as one that cares about the people they colonized, respects the slave, tries to bring peace to the colonized nation and also to civilized them. It renders a different facet of what I define an imperialist and also by judging from the aftermaths of colonization. I find it bias towards the imperialists. Hence, I would like to use the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) to present the effects of imperialism which is contrasting what the poem tries to depict. A brief detail about the war: It occurs due to the First Philippine Republic against U.S. annexation of the Islands.It is also known as Philippine Insurrection. Among the consequences of the wars are:
To Philippine:
- According to General Geography of Philippine Islands in 1908, its population decreased due to wars from 9 M (in the beginning) to less than 8 M in number (1908).
- U.S. attacks countryside by burning and destroying entire villages and causing casualties to the civilians.
- According to an article We Charge Genocide: A Brief History of US in the Philippines, appearing in the December, 2005 in an online Magazine (Marxist Thought online), the war and pacification campaign which caused the death of Filipinos, constituted genocide.
- The Roman Catholic Church in Philippine was disestablished and and some of the church lands were purchased and redistributed.
- The implementation of English dominates the native languages in Philippines in the education system.
- According to Gen. Otis, American prisoners were tortured: buried alive, castrated and so forth.
- Philippine alleged a surprise attack that killed almost fifty American soldiers.
- 4196 Americans soldiers were dead in the official war year.
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