Far from improving the lot of the natives, Britain actually destroyed local manufacturing. This was especially the case in India, where rulers were forced, often at the point of a gun, to accept cheap, British imports to the detriment of local industry and caused untold poverty and misery in many areas. In Africa, land was taken from the natives and turned over to cash-crop production, again causing misery and hardship for the local population.
Having an empire, moreover, is not a sign of strength. Most historians agree that a formal empire is a sign of economic weakness, whether it be Roman or British. In the mid 19th Century Britain was all for universal Free Trade; an admirable concept until you consider that Britain was the only nation capable of exporting cheap, mass-produced goods. As other nations, like Germany and the USA, started to catch up and competition became fiercer, so Britain had to take over the formal administration of trading partners to ensure that British goods received priority. Now, instead of economic dominance, Britain relied on the rule of brute force to maintain its exports.
Of course, not all natives went quietly and, as middle-class natives became more educated in European politics, they started to clamour for independence. This became more vocal after the First World War, when it was discovered that the European overlords were not as all-powerful as they made out. The British response was brutal and demonstrations were dispersed with bullets, sometimes supplied by aeroplanes strafing the crowd. Gandhi's peaceful protests usually ended up with either a rifle butt to the side of the head or a bullet in the guts. No wonder that many Indians resorted to more violent methods.
In fact, this became the norm in most British colonies. Political protest was silenced with the rifle and machine gun and the protesters eventually answered in kind. The downtrodden Kikuyu people of Kenya became the Mau-Mau, while the Pan-African Congress became the ANC, the dreaded 'teeroreests' of South Africa.
This happened elsewhere too. When France was brutally taken over by Nazi Germany, the French formed 'terrorist' cells to fight back. The same happened in French Indochina, Algeria and even in Spain with the Basque people. In the USA the peaceful campaign led by Martin Luther-King was answered with violence, often ignored or even led by the police. And so the bogeymen of the Black Panthers and the Black Power movement arose.
In one small portion of the British Empire the same familiar story unfolded. The natives, who were actually outnumbered by the colonists, demonstrated peacefully for civil equality, as Martin Luther-King had done. As in America, the police were complicit in the violent suppression of these demonstrations. As violence flared between the colonists and the natives, troops were sent in. Ostensibly, these troops were a peace-keeping force but, in reality, they began to put the natives 'back in their place,' even opening fire on peaceful demonstrators. Of course, as happened everywhere else, fire was fought with fire and a 'terrorist' campaign began, just as in India, Kenya, Rhodesia and other parts of the Empire. You might have already guessed that the 'small portion of the Empire' I'm talking about is Ulster. It could be claimed that I'm oversimplifying the situation but, essentially, that's what happened; the same as everywhere else.
All of which puts into context the folk songs that have appeared in Northern Ireland and in Scotland about the IRA. Black people in America have plenty of songs about their struggles, South African blacks sing about Mandela and other heroes, the French have folk songs about the Maquis and every other country in the word sings songs about their fight for freedom. So why should Irish Nationalists be any different?
I might as well point out here that I've got no great affinity for Ireland. Although my family orginally came from there I have never been and see myself as Scottish. Every family of Irish descent, however, has tales of things that happened in Ireland, especially during the terror campaign mounted by the Black and Tans. It is understandable, then, to me anyway, that folk can still feel bitter about British involvement in Ireland. Unfortunately, it is hard for such people to move on when, every year, the Loyalists of Ulster come over here to march through our streets to reassert their triumphalism and feeling of superiority.
It is rather disingenuous of McMurdo, therefore, to start pointing fingers. He, and his disciples, want the authorities to do something about pro-IRA songs at Celtic Park. Personally, I'd happily see (or hear) them disappear but there is another point entirely hidden among the rhetoric. Despite the offence caused by these songs to certain folk, it has to be said that there is not one word of hatred for British, English or Protestants in any of them; only a hatred of oppression. Can the same be said for songs emanating from Ibrox? Even their 'non-sectarian' anthem is suspect. Most fans would chant or sing about following their team to Hell and back; so where is the last place in the Universe that the Ibrox hordes would follow-follow their team to? Dublin. Why Dublin? The only possible answer is anti-Irish racism. This, to me, is a more serious problem than the songs at Celtic Park. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter but hatred of others simply because of their religion or nationality is unjustifiable in any context.
I'll now perform an Esther Rantzen swivel on the chair to indicate that the serious stuff is over and it's now over to the potatoes shaped like cocks and the dogs saying, 'Sausages.'
Keith Jackson has got the Bisto Kids all in a tizzy with his piece in today's Daily Record. All he does is report the rumours, saying that we'll all find out what the truth is at the end of February; is Bisto FC skint or not? Of course, the usual crew come pouring out, on the DR forum and on McMurdo's page, to blast Jackson for being a 'Raynjurz Hater.' Maybe if they asked somebody in the library to actually read the article to them and explain all the words of more than two syllables they might realise that Jackson is actually on their side. Perhaps if there wasn't so much omerta among the Cosa Nostra currentlly running things at Ibrox then there would be no need for any of this speculation!
That's two days in a row that the DR has run a story about some big, fat, baldy guy hurling racial abuse at somebody. Yesterday it was a busker, today it's an MSP. There is no mention in the articles but you don't need to be psychic to know which team these two clowns follow follow. Hopefully there's a 'Yes' vote in September and this type will flee, seeking asylum, to the south of England. I'm sure UKIP will welcome them with open arms!
Meanwhile, more than 600 troops in the Royal Regiment of Scotland have been deemed unfit and too fat. What's the betting that among them are the shower that was at Ibrox in November? If you look at your average Bisto fan I'm sure there's a rule that you're not allowed through the extra-large turnstiles unless you need a separate seat for each arse cheek. Mind you, the size of some of them they'd need a separate post code for each arse cheek!
Also in the Daily Record is an article about Scottish strip clubs, about which Channel 4 are starting a series next week. Apparently there is big money to be made there. Anybody fancy a lap dance from Sooperally? Or what about one of the Krays? They can do kneecap removal while they dance. There was a bit at the end of the article, however, that might be of more use. Apparently a company can claim subsidies from the Government if it employs out-of-work teenagers. So if it turns out that Bisto FC is as skint as Phil Mac Whatsit says, then next season's team could be recruited at Govan Job Centre. Or would that count as State Aid?
Finally, Shaun was imagining some brave Scottish journalist (I know, I know, but Shaun's obviously got some imagination) questioning Ally about administration. Can you imagine Sooper, who is not exactly Weakest Link material never mind Mastermind, trying to cope with answering that?
'Animistration 2? Ah don't know, Ah've no seen it. Ah've no even seen Animistration Wan yit. Kin ye get it oan Netflix? Who's in it? Ah hope it's Steven Seagall. Ah like him. What? Skint? Naw, Ah'm loaded, mate. Is the club skint? Naw, ye see the club canny be skint, only the haudin' cumpny. Naw, Ah don't get it either. Ah wish Charlie Green wiz here tae explain it tae me again.'
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