Letter To The ICBR: Re: Reparations?
Well, I found your site today. It's an interesting take on World history, and given the current trend of revisionism, one I'm not that surprised to see. Makes a great advert for the book. Not sure if it has any deeper motives, though.
So, what have the British done that's so awful? Firstly - using the word "British" could be seen as controversial, as the Scottish, Welsh and Irish are lumped in to this noun. However, it may be more accurate to say "what have the English done". That's semantics. I believe you really mean "what have those people on that triangular-like island north of France done..."
Genocide
Remember, the people who live on this fair isle are all mongrels. None of us can truly claim to be "British". This land has been invaded by (amongst others):
1. Romans (Italians with swords)
2. Vikings (Norwegians with swords and axes)
3. Normans (French with swords and archers)
4. Americans (Americans with nylon, burgers, gum and popular culture)
We have also been settled peacefully by many peoples over the centuries.
No one is innocent of the genocide charge. We must remember that the American Civil War caused much death and grief, as well as encounters with indigenous peoples. The Germans are the obvious candidate in the last century. I'd remind you that Iraq has seen its fair share of bloodshed recently too. The British can not be held guilty of that crime alone. We certainly did not invent the practice. We definitely did not start it.
The Industrial Revolution
This was waiting to happen. The steam engine was nothing new - the Greeks used a prmitive form for entertainment. This and the advances of technical and technological development across Europe meant that the spark could have happened anywhere. It just so happens that we got there first. I don't think that this was an isolated incident which can be laid at our feet. Certainly, the enlightened Americans of the time should have seen this as bad, and not had anything to do with it.
Global Misrule
After WWII, the middle East was certainly partitioned off, but the British were not solely complicit. Indeed, it was to protect American interests that this happened. The instabilities in the middle east are as much American's doing. Indeed more so, as attempts to clear up the mess have only made the problems worse.
Let's not forget that Saddam Huseein was America's golden boy during the Iran/Iraq war, and the Taleban was the preferred choice of government when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in the 1980's. Great, informed choices all round. But not choices that we alone made. You cannot pin that one on us.
Bad Inventions
Machine guns - one of yours, I'm afraid. OK, living here at the time, but he was an American showman. Richard Jordan Gatling is responsible for the Gatling gun (a developed for of this is still in use today in some of your more advanced tank buster aircraft). Hiram Maxim invented the first true machine gun. Guess where he was born? Sangerville, Piscataquis County, Maine in the United States of America. He became a naturalised Brit, but his origins and ideas are clearly from your side of the Atlantic. Mechanised death. Another great US invention.
Slums, prisons, child labour, bad hygiene - you sure we invented these? Unlikely. They were around, and we did it too, but you can't be so general. Since the Dark Ages, there was a lot of filth around. I'd stick my neck out and say that not all Romans were clean and squeaky ether. I bet they stank. I'd like to see more evidence that these are ours.
Black Plague - we called it "the black death" - we also had the bubonic plague. Both were imported from afar. We didn't invent them. We just died a lot because antibiotics hadn't been invented.
If Britain really is behind all the world's problems as you say it is, how have they managed to keep up such a positive image for so long?
Hmm - probably because we look so much better than some other nations I could think of? You mention a common language, and indeed we do share a root language based on, oh, let's see: French, German, Dutch, Russian and who know what else. Picking on language is an easy option, and a bit of a cop-out, especially if it's a shared one. The fact is that the English language is ever changing. You will be more sensensitivesibite to "British-isms" and we are more sensitive to the incursion of "Americanisms". Whatever happens, I believe that the two will diverge enough over the next 200 or so years to become true dialects, as opposed to accents.
How did you come up with the 31 trillion pounds figure?
Given the exchange rates, I'll send you 50p. That should cover it. Seriously, though, the claim is ridiculous, and merely highlights the "blame=claim" mentality of the USA. A good marketing ploy for the book, but not one that I would think will be given much credence. There is clearly an anti-USA feeling in the world at the moment. I understand the need for comfort in these difficult times.
What will you do with the petition after I sign it?
Dunno about "over there" but here, a petition is seen in political circles as one letter, signed by a lot of people. The real trick is to get lots of people to write in and complain individually. 10000 signatures on a petition does not carry the same weight as 10000 individual letters. My family is heavily involved in political lobbying in this country on a number of issues, and individual letters from a lot of people is the weapon of choice. It involves more work on the part of campaigners, but it clearly is a better way to go.
Good luck with the book - and a great advertising campaign you have got going to sell it. I can't see you making the trip to Buckingham Palace with any petition though.
All the best,
Paul Dunning
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SIGN THE PETITION AND GET PAID!
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