HPAVC/HPAVC CD-ROM.iso/HOMEWORK.ZIP/1447.TXT

Text File | 1998-07-25 | 9KB | 119 lines

This file is copyright of Jens Schriver (c)
It originates from the Evil House of Cheat
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Essay Name       : 1447.txt
Uploader         :
Email Address    :
Language         : English
Subject          : History
Title            : Western Imperialism and Racism
Grade            : 89%
School System    : Illinois Public Skools
Country          : USA
Author Comments  : In text, I say "lake of sympathy" instead of "lack of sympathy"
Teacher Comments : Very good, very dramatic
Date             : 11/23/96
Site found at    : Just Goofing off
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    In the age of Imperialism, world powers constantly tried to expand their
boundaries.  Much of the time they disregarded the native populations or created
stereotypes around them that suited their colonial needs.  Imperialism brought about a
clash of cultures.  Colonial European and Japanese power expanded into Asia and Africa.
The British, French, Dutch and Americans considered themselves conquerors with an
eminent right to expansion with domain over the native cultures.   Their belief that they
were above the  people who lived in their colonial empires not only decreased mutual
respect but also gave rise to a racist style of thinking.
    First,  this colonial movement wiped out mutual respect between the colonial
power and the previously sovereign state; the Europeans clung to it fiercely though.
ôThis was not simply a matter of domination,ö says John Barraclough, author of An
Introduction to Contemporary History.  Although it may have been nothing more than a
crude, militaristic, undermining need for power that drove the Europeans to colonize,
they saw it differently.  Europeans saw their massive expansion at the close of the
nineteenth century as the opening of a new era.  They thought they were bringing a
greater civilization to the backward, non-white, non-European world (Barraclough 65).
    They saw it as their duty.  If non-Europeans could not promote trade, influence
their economy and create a better (as the Europeans believed), more relevant lifestyle
then the colonial powers would have to do it for them.  ôIt was useless to export
European skills to backward countries without at the same time introducing European
authorities to ensure their proper employment; since the native races were unable to
maintain civilized rule themselves, the government of dependencies by the imperial
powers was a necessity of the modern worldö (Barraclough 65).
    The Europeans sent out waves of emigrants to populate and control their new
territories.  This mix of cultures and ideals should have brought about a greater respect
and understanding.  New ideas and horizons should have been opened and explored.
Unfortunately this great opportunity was squandered.  It is evident that the Europeans
saw themselves as superior.  They took this belief to its full extent.  Every facet of their
life was deemed more suitable for civilization.  They set out not to accept but to subdue
and change.  Imperialism, which should have brought the world closer together, only
widened the gaps between its races and decreased their respect for one another.
      This cultural clash did everything to create and strengthen racist beliefs.  In
order to coerce a race or a nation they must be dehumanized.  It is hard to kill someone
with a name, a face or children.  It is impossible to look into the eyes of someone you see
as your brother and pull the trigger and end his life.
    Yet, if you thought of him as a dog you could do it.  To see subservience in a race
all good things about their culture must be seen as minimal, if at all.  A person with free
will can not be controlled.  A person you believe never had it must be controlled.  In this
way, racism was a vital part of Imperialism.
    The best example of this is unfortunately a dark chapter in our American history -
Slavery.  When European settlers first went to Africa they saw the native population there
as savage and primitive.  They were just different, but the belief of superiority was
overwhelming.  The colonialists also saw them as easily controlled.  So, in great
numbers, black men, women, and children were brought to America to work as slaves.
    Racial stereotypes were prevalent to the continuation of the ôpeculiar institution.ö
First, racism held that the Africans needed to be tamed.  This ideal allowed for them to
be taken from their homes and contained.  It was, in the racistÆs view, good for them.
    In the early 1800Æs the need for the importation of slaves became unnecessary to
bolster the number of workers for the fields.  The slave trade was outlawed in 1808.
America was evolving.  The view of the slave needed to move with it.   No longer did he
need to be tamed.  Slavery had to be justified though.  The slave now became a happy
worker.  His lifestyle changed within the eyes of the American public.  He became like a
small child who needed to be nurtured.
    He was too dumb or too backward now to feed his family or run his own life.  He
never had free will and he never would get it.  According to the beliefs of the day, the
slave owners were doing their slaves a favor by feeding, clothing and housing them.
They were all content and they always would be (in-class film).
    The racist view changed with the countries need.  The black culture became
whatever was most convenient for the slaveholders to continue to control them.  If he
needed the black man to be stupid; he was.  That way he could keep him in the fields for
the slaves own good, of course.  If the slaveholder needed the black man to be crafty and
sneaky; he was.  That way the slave could be whipped for his own good, of course.
      Finally, after the Civil War, the impression that all blacks were violent and
dangerous to society became dominant.  This was in an attempt to re-control the
African-American after his liberation.  Some white Americans were so used to being
superior to the blacks, they could not conceive of a world otherwise.  They felt that
principle slipping away from them.  What better ways to regain it than with slander.
They could regain their dominant position by maintaining the danger of the contrary.
ôZip Coon,ö ôPickananies,ö ôMammy,ö were all used to degrade and de-humanize
African Americans (in class film).  This sinister, ever-changing racism was brought about
by this lack of respect founded in the doctrine of Imperialism.
    In no place can both racism and a lack of respect for different societies be better
understood than in the Pacific before and during World War II..    They shared the same
Imperialistic view as the European powers.   On August 1, 1940 a statement commenting
on JapanÆs views on regional domination (The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere)
was issued by Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke.
             I have always said that the mission of Japan is to proclaim and
        demonstrate the kodo (Imperial Way) throughout the world.  Viewed from
        the standpoint of international relations, this amounts...to enabling all
        nations and races to find its proper place in the world...(Dower 280-281).
This proper place for Japan in Asia was at itÆs helm.  The ôproper placeö for all other
Orientals within itÆs sphere of influence was one of subordination.  This showed a great
lack of respect by Japan.
    This view worked in cooperation with racism.   JapanÆs lake of tolerance for other
cultures became apparent in a secret 1942-43 report.  It stated that if Japan were to deal
with those who are inherently unequal as equals it would be Japan who suffers.  Yet, ôTo
treat those who are unequal unequally is to realize equalityö (Dower 264).  Belittling and
dehumanizing is another way Japan reinforced their feeling of superiority.
    Of course, Japan is not the only nation who sought to expand their boundaries by
hate during World War II.  The propaganda has been used by whites and non-whites for
thousands of years.  These tools though, the lack of respect for different cultures and
racism through Imperialism weakened the world.  It has caused nations to war and great
suffering.  It does nothing to bring peace and everything to cause destruction.

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