British Empire - Good or Bad?

[Hyorius]

Are you kidding? I'm from Pakistan, formerly part of the British Raj. They destroyed the splendor of Mughal culture. The dirty, greedy Europeans should keep away.

*Points at Mughal Empire* Hahaha! You're tiny!

Besides, you dirtied your nation when you couldn't live peacefully with India. Though granted, India wasn't a force for peace either...


*Gently spanks Britain's children* If you can't share then you're both not having it!

*Seething Anger* Are you mad?! Why should we, a noble breed of Muslim believers, make peace with dirty Dravidian rats! Why should pay heed to European swine! The Mughal empire is a shining example of Muslim magnificence and power. We are fit to rule the world, not Hindu or European infidels.

[DeusII]

Impressiveness is not the same as justness. A nuclear explosion is impressive - that doesn't mean it is right. Similarly, just because there was much bloodshed and oppression involved in imperialism doesn't make the achievements of that operation any less impressive. Regardless of its impact, a small island setting out to carve an empire out of a quarter of the globe is still quite a feat.

adjective /imˈpresiv/ 

Evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill: grand, imposing, or awesome

Key word: admiration. That implies something positive.

It may be impressive that a high profile murderer invaded capture for 10 years, or that one bomb can destroy an entire city or that six million people can be killed in an organised manner in only a few years. I find it impressive that a dictionary could publish such a ridiculous definition and get away with it. Impressive is completely the right word in this situation.

[Glorious Freedonia]

I am from a former British colony. I think it was a very good thing. I am shocked that people think otherwise. If for no other reason than the British practiced the horrific practice of settee in India, they were wonderful. I am sure that there are a million other good things that they did.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Can't we agree they were both?

[Cilistia Novaren]

Being the largest drug cartel & largest human trafficking organisation in the world's history. Good or bad?

*cough* The british empire was one of the first nations to outlaw slavery *cough*

[Parhe]

I am from a former British colony. I think it was a very good thing. I am shocked that people think otherwise. If for no other reason than the British practiced the horrific practice of settee in India, they were wonderful. I am sure that there are a million other good things that they did.

Now explain to me how exactly that settling in India is either good or bad.

[Planta Genista]

I'm from England and I think the empire was a good thing. It spread technology and prosperity all throughout the world. Yes, it did a few bad things, but the good thing's it has done far outweigh the bad! Name a country that hasn't done a bad thing in it's past?

[Alyakia]

I'm from England and I think the empire was a good thing. It spread technology and prosperity all throughout the world. Yes, it did a few bad things, but the good thing's it has done far outweigh the bad! Name a country that hasn't done a bad thing in it's past?

Andorra. Sealand.

[Glorious Freedonia]

I am from a former British colony. I think it was a very good thing. I am shocked that people think otherwise. If for no other reason than the British practiced the horrific practice of settee in India, they were wonderful. I am sure that there are a million other good things that they did.

Now explain to me how exactly that settling in India is either good or bad.

It was good. In order to exert some power upon an area it certainly helps if you have some folks living there. Anything that they were able to do to force them to stop burning widows is fine by me.

[Johz]

No matter what stance anyone takes on this issue, remember this: our British Commonwealth provided military protection, financial assistance, oftentimes the first formal educational institutions, healthcare, Government structure, and roads. Without such assistance, a quarter of the globe would have remained unsettled and poor for untold decades. I applaud the work of our ancestors, and have nothing but praise for the British Commonwealth. God Save the Queen!!

The Commonwealth =/= the British Empire.

While we did do some good out of the Empire, I feel hesitant calling any force or program designed to conquer smaller being under their own sovreign rights and subjugate them 'good'.

And it's no use saying that everyone else was doing it at the same time. If France had jumped out of a six story window, would you do it as well? Would you? Would you? I thought as not. You disgust me Britain, six lashes for insolence. Has Matron seen those boils?

Er... *straightens collar* Well...

[Glorious Freedonia]

I'm from England and I think the empire was a good thing. It spread technology and prosperity all throughout the world. Yes, it did a few bad things, but the good thing's it has done far outweigh the bad! Name a country that hasn't done a bad thing in it's past?

Andorra. Sealand.

Did not Sealand do some kind of shenanigans that they used to justify their actual existence? Andorra is in the Pyrenees and a lynx went extinct there. They should have done more to help the lynx.

[Alyakia]

Andorra. Sealand.

Did not Sealand do some kind of shenanigans that they used to justify their actual existence? Andorra is in the Pyrenees and a lynx went extinct there. They should have done more to help the lynx.

Nope.

[Alyakia]

Unless you're reffering to the thing with the German diplomat, which followed a mercanary attack on their nation. Which wasn't really a "bad thing" they did.

[Planta Genista]

I'm from England and I think the empire was a good thing. It spread technology and prosperity all throughout the world. Yes, it did a few bad things, but the good thing's it has done far outweigh the bad! Name a country that hasn't done a bad thing in it's past?

Andorra. Sealand.

Sealand is not recognised as a nation, and therefore I feel it doesn't count as an example. It has, however done bad things in its past. For example, Sealand has fought in a war and kept war prisoners even after the war had ended.
Andorra expelled the few Jews found within their nation, has fought in several wars since it's founding, &c.

[Alyakia]

Andorra. Sealand.

Sealand is not recognised as a nation, and therefore I feel it doesn't count as an example. It has, however done bad things in its past. For example, Sealand has fought in a war and kept war prisoners even after the war had ended.
Andorra expelled the few Jews found within their nation, has fought in several wars since it's founding, &c.

The war you are talking about started with Sealand being attacked by mercanary groups, no?

[Parhe]

Being the largest drug cartel & largest human trafficking organisation in the world's history. Good or bad?

*cough* The british empire was one of the first nations to outlaw slavery *cough*

A quick search on Wikipedia, yes trustworthy as it is supported by multiple claims, tells otherwise. Iceland(1117), Japan(1200), Sweden(1335), Ragusa(1416), Poland-Lithuania(1588), Russia(1723), French Republic(1794), Haiti(1804), Prussia(1807), Netherlands(1814), Spain(1817), Greece(1822), Chile(1823), Central America Republic(1824), Mexico(1829), Uruguay(1830), and Bolivia(1831). Slavery wasn't completely abolished in the British Empire until 1833,

[Glorious Freedonia]

Unless you're reffering to the thing with the German diplomat, which followed a mercanary attack on their nation. Which wasn't really a "bad thing" they did.

Yes. It is not all that bad but might it not be a little naughty? I forget the specifics.

[Terra Mariana]

Even most ex-colonials today will acknowledge they were better off under British rule than they are now, under petty dictators and warlords of their own.

Not to mention that British Empire in 1914 marked the high point of the glorious Western civilization.

[Planta Genista]

Sealand is not recognised as a nation, and therefore I feel it doesn't count as an example. It has, however done bad things in its past. For example, Sealand has fought in a war and kept war prisoners even after the war had ended.
Andorra expelled the few Jews found within their nation, has fought in several wars since it's founding, &c.

The war you are talking about started with Sealand being attacked by mercanary groups, no?

From the government website of Sealand:

Sealand Fights Off Invaders (and Wins a War)

In August of 1978, a number of Dutch men came to Sealand in the employ of a German businessman. They were there to discuss business dealings with Sealand. While Roy was away in Britain, these men kidnapped Prince Roy's son Michael, and took Sealand by force. Soon after, Roy recaptured the island with a group of his own men and held the attackers as prisoners of war.

During the time that he held the prisoners, the Governments of the Netherlands and Germany petitioned for their release. First they asked England to intervene in the matter, but the British government cited their earlier court decision as evidence that they made no claim to the territory of Sealand. Then, in an act of de facto recognition of Sealand's sovereignty, Germany sent a diplomat directly to Sealand to negotiate for the release of their citizen.

Roy first released the Dutch citizens, as the war was over, and the Geneva Convention requires the release of all prisoners. The German was held longer, as he had accepted a Sealand Passport, and therefore was guilty of treason. Prince Roy, who was grateful that the incident had not resulted in a loss of life, and did not want to bloody the reputation of Sealand, eventually released him as well.

[Parhe]

Andorra. Sealand.

Did not Sealand do some kind of shenanigans that they used to justify their actual existence? Andorra is in the Pyrenees and a lynx went extinct there. They should have done more to help the lynx.

How about Korea? The Korean War was a civil war that everyone else decided by choice to get involved in.

[Parhe]

Even most ex-colonials today will acknowledge they were better off under British rule than they are now, under petty dictators and warlords of their own.

Not to mention that British Empire in 1914 marked the high point of the glorious Western civilization.

yes, but part of the bad of the British Empire was that they left without creating good future governments or anything most the time.

[Alyakia]

The war you are talking about started with Sealand being attacked by mercanary groups, no?

From the government website of Sealand:

Sealand Fights Off Invaders (and Wins a War)

In August of 1978, a number of Dutch men came to Sealand in the employ of a German businessman. They were there to discuss business dealings with Sealand. While Roy was away in Britain, these men kidnapped Prince Roy's son Michael, and took Sealand by force. Soon after, Roy recaptured the island with a group of his own men and held the attackers as prisoners of war.

During the time that he held the prisoners, the Governments of the Netherlands and Germany petitioned for their release. First they asked England to intervene in the matter, but the British government cited their earlier court decision as evidence that they made no claim to the territory of Sealand. Then, in an act of de facto recognition of Sealand's sovereignty, Germany sent a diplomat directly to Sealand to negotiate for the release of their citizen.

Roy first released the Dutch citizens, as the war was over, and the Geneva Convention requires the release of all prisoners. The German was held longer, as he had accepted a Sealand Passport, and therefore was guilty of treason. Prince Roy, who was grateful that the incident had not resulted in a loss of life, and did not want to bloody the reputation of Sealand, eventually released him as well.

So, uh, they fought a defensive war in which no one died then released the prisoners.

[Planta Genista]

Did not Sealand do some kind of shenanigans that they used to justify their actual existence? Andorra is in the Pyrenees and a lynx went extinct there. They should have done more to help the lynx.

How about Korea? The Korean War was a civil war that everyone else decided by choice to get involved in.

North Korea: The mass oppression and genocide it imposes on it's own population
South Korea: Hangang Bridge bombing, Ganghwa massacre, The Sancheong and Hamyang massacre
The Korean Empire: Several massacres

[Alyakia]

Even most ex-colonials today will acknowledge they were better off under British rule than they are now, under petty dictators and warlords of their own.

Not to mention that British Empire in 1914 marked the high point of the glorious Western civilization.

Yes, the high point of civillization, preparing to slaughter our broth- wait

[Parhe]

How about Korea? The Korean War was a civil war that everyone else decided by choice to get involved in.

North Korea: The mass oppression and genocide it imposes on it's own population
South Korea: Hangang Bridge bombing, Ganghwa massacre, The Sancheong and Hamyang massacre
The Korean Empire: Several massacres

I assumed not on its own people. But how about Monaco, or the many small island states in the pacific?