Posted by Sigismund on January 24, 2009, at 14:43:28
In reply to Re: Freedom to discuss politics » Sigismund, posted by Dinah on January 24, 2009, at 14:26:53
Last year was the hundredth anniversary of the transfer of the Belgian Congo from being the personal property of King Leopold to being the property of the Belgian people.
A good proportion of the people of the Belgian Congo died so that they could enjoy the benefits of Christianity and progress (such being the rationale, and the rubber). My daughter has a history book with the saddest photo in the world in it: A black man staring forlornly at the foot of his little daughter, cut off because of non-compliance with the rubber quota.So, given our history and inheritance, perhaps we are not doing so badly.
And there are people here from Central and South America, I realised.
poster:Sigismund
thread:875731
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20081212/msgs/875858.html