Should Former Colonial Powers Apologize?

Question

Imperialism was one of the most tragic periods of history. European colinial powers came into Asian and Africa with guns and ill-intentions. Much of the poverty in Africa is a direct result of the European practice of shipping the wealth of colonies to Europe. Should these European countries who had colonies in the past apologize?

Answer 1

although imperialism was wrong. there is no one alive today that was responsible for it. so who would apoligize? and if they did who would they apologize too? it wouldnt be coming from those who commited the crime so would it mean anything anyway?

Answer 2

First of all most European countries that actually had
colonies apologized for it quite a few times already.
Secondly. If you look at Asia and then at Africa you
might notice that while Africa is a complete mess Asia
is not. Why is that so? Because of the colonial powers?
Hardly. Africa's problems are house made. NONE of
the poverty in Africa these days has anything to do
with colonialism. When the Europeans entered Africa
it was less urbanized than when they left. What they
took were resources. Those resources are still there.

Are the Europeans responsible for the low education? No.
Are they responsible for civil war over resources? No.
Are they responsible for ethnic cleansing? No.
Are they responsible for religious conflicts? No.

Answer 3

You have swallowed some propaganda hook line and, I'm afraid, sinker.
Black folk until recently either went naked or wore a skirt made of animal skin, later after Europeans or Arabs had arrived, they took to skirts made of a single piece of cloth (I know, I saw them when I was young).
Remember that it was the white people of Western Europe (first of all Great Britain) that for the very first time in human history, abolished slavery and, with the Royal Navy, drove the slavers from the seas, much to the disappointment of the African chiefs, who saw their ancient trade ruined. The Arabs and M0slem blacks in North Africa and the near East cheerfully went on buying and selling men and women and do it to this day.
No people, including white people should be lumped together. Spain had a much more violent history in this respect for instance than, say, France or Portugal, largely because it called in the power of the RC church.
Britain and the Netherlands brought the rule of law, due process of law, equality of all before the law, medical treatment for all, almost eradicating diseases like leprosy, malaria, TB etc. that had been killing and maiming millions before then, developed agriculture and communications, so that famine became a thing of the past where, before, it had been endemic.
We introduced freedom of speech and of the press, thus permitting black and other politicians to fulminate against us because we believed that was a right they should have.
Can you think of any white government these days allowing large numbers of its own people to starve, as Robert Mugabe is doing? The other white governments would bring it down pronto.
Living in a civilisation created by Europeans is what allows you the freedom to read that propaganda.
A little over a hundred years ago white Americans fought and killed each other by the hundreds of thousands in order for the black man to be free. It started a process that meant they could finally become civilized citizens there. In Africa, they were step by step given their independence, only to have them vote to put bloody dictators in charge. Tyrants who have treated them far worse than European people ever did.
As for "their resources", what were they doing about them? They didn't even know they existed. You do not seem to know how primitive people are who as in Africa before colonisation) have not yet even thought of the wheel, let alone spinning and weaving. By "exploiting" those resources we have raised their standard of living, brought them medical treatment.
Who should be apologizing?

Answer 4

Yrs spain Italy Germany Portugual should all Say sorry for Plundering and Murdering their Colonies

Answer 5

No, Europe brough civilisation to the world. Had these 3rd world places invaded by the Europeans been a little more advanced, they would've done it themselves... but now we are paying because all these previous colonies are moving into Europe.

Answer 6

For what doing what the powers of Asia and Africa did as well. Just they is it the white mans that did wrong when he only did the same thing that was done to him.

Answer 7

Probably, but then so should every other descendant of any other race or civilization that ever conquered another, and looted it's wealth.

Rather than apologies, how about working on extracting promises from every country in existence today that they'll never do it again?

Answer 8

Why?

No one alive today was part of a colonial power.

Did anyone in your family line ever do anything wrong?

Are you responsible?

Answer 9

Yes,Europeans have always made a false propaganda and reason for colonizing that they wanted to bring Renaissance in the world ,what they do not under stand that 2500 years back people in India knew how to count in tens and invented zero Knew the Diameter of the earth within 1% or 2% error,Invented the idea of sophisticated Sex,Written language [Not hieroglyphics],showed the world how to make steel.had already invented the bullock cart for more than a thousand years.Irrigation canals and wells .Sophisticated Music Dance and other arts like Painting and Bronze statues WHILE EUROPEANS WERE LIVING IN THE TREES.

Answer 10

How can a country apologize?
Who should do the apologizing?
Who should the apologizing be directed towards?
I think you owe yourself an apology for making a fool of yourself.

Answer 11

It is such a shame that those evil Europeans came to Africa. If only that had not happened then the whole continent would be a Utopia that the world would envy.