Americans and colonialism
By Fleur
@Fleura (34927)
United Kingdom
January 16, 2023 5:28am CST
I don’t know how true this is – obviously I only know about what’s reported – but it sometimes seems that Americans love to have a go at the British for their colonial history. When Price Harry was interviewed on ‘The Late Show’ for example, the host Stephen Colbert joked 'bring your corgis and colonial treasures’.
Now I freely admit that I may be biased here, but if Americans are so against colonialism, doesn’t that mean that almost all of them should go ‘home’ to their ancestral lands? Because the USA is one of the world’s biggest colonies, colonised by the British, French and Spanish (though the latter never seem to be on the receiving end of such criticism), among others.
So if, from their high horses, they criticise everyone else for their past history, shouldn’t they make amends by leaving the ‘colony’ and returning the land to the native Americans? Because the land itself is the greatest colonial treasure there is!
All rights reserved. © Text copyright Fleur 2023.
11 people like this
12 responses
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Jan 23
The Americans did it, too: Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam...
3 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
23 Jan 23
@Fleura Some by conquering as well. Take the Louisiana Purchase for example (which was a purchase that created several states in the central part of the country). From 1699-1762 France controlled this area. It was ceded to Spain then until 1800 when Napolean regained control, and was sold to the United States in around 1803.
The Louisiana Purchase is an area that is now home to 15 states actually.
@porwest (112717)
• United States
20 Jan 23
Actually, according to history, most of our country was not conquered or "colonized." We bought the land from other countries such as through the Louisiana Purchase, plus we did it through annexing. Hawaii and Alaska was purchased and Hawaii was annexed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Jan 23
Good point. Poor old Britain is often on the receiving end of criticism. There was a program on TV a week or two back about stolen 'treasures' from Egypt which is fair enough in a way but the critics do seem to go overboard at times.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
17 Jan 23
Nothing 'poor old British' about it. They have still not returned the Kohinoor diamond to India
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
16 Jan 23
You honestly can't hold us all responsible for the things a few of us say and do.
2 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
20 Jan 23
All I know is that America was colonized, mostly from people fleeing tyranny and overtaxation from British rule, and we fought the British for our independence and won. We also fought the indians and won. So, the land is ours and we should have no reason to leave. BUT, of course we can have opinions, founded or not, just like the British can.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
20 Jan 23
Isn't that the same for all colonies - somebody's ancestors fought somebody else's ancestors and won?
I wouldn't agree that most of America was colonized by 'people fleeing tyranny and overtaxation from British rule' thousands of people have emigrated to the USA from countries all over the world for a whole variety of reasons.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
16 Jan 23
I can't imagine a world with out the US. We would be going back wards. The country has set an example to the rest of the world. With out spain or US, we would probably just another Islamic state. Im happy with the freedom i have.
1 person likes this
