CH 22
As time progressed, the realization that territories and "nations" had a right to be independent of their colonizers. Country by country, did they start to claim their right to be recognized as their own. The more and more progress these colonizers made, they more they realized how contradictory their actions were.
I mean think about a country fighting for more rights, but subjecting another country to harsh conditions and unequal rights? The irony right. This was opposite of what values Europeans practiced and preached to their people. But not only that-- Europe was weakened after the war, and it was a rude awakening for them to realize that they were not as powerful as they once were. Nations started to get together and actually combat colonial ways. This also led to the decline and elimination of colonies and "empires" over other places. People started to get smart and was no longer going to stand for this unfairness.
Not every country go to freedom quietly. While there were some that had peaceful transitions, some were not so pretty, and even guerrilla warfare broke out. Some countries viewed freedom as a nation with unity while others, like India and the Islamic world saw their nation through religion. Some led by communism, some led by religion.
India gained independence from Britain not too long ago. What emerged from this new independence was India and Pakistan, which I personally had no idea. British people were unable to assimilate into the Indian life, because their differences were too distinct. But the people of India wanted more and deserved more. This is where the movement towards freedom started rolling. Mahatma Gandhi who inspired MLK and many other leaders with nonviolence resistance, use that tactic to solve issues that India was dealing with. The was a little different from South Africa's struggle for independence. They were not under colonial rule, but instead they were under white man rule. The racial divide is a battle we keep seeing and still continue to struggle with.
What is interesting is we read in this chapter what happens next? What happens after independence. The more we read the chapter, the more and more it reveals "shit-hole" countries. The aftershock of being exploited to now having freedom but left with really no resources. While countries gained rights in other areas, it was still a struggle for most. The "developing" countries have a lot to catch up on, and the "better" off countries will not help.
I mean think about a country fighting for more rights, but subjecting another country to harsh conditions and unequal rights? The irony right. This was opposite of what values Europeans practiced and preached to their people. But not only that-- Europe was weakened after the war, and it was a rude awakening for them to realize that they were not as powerful as they once were. Nations started to get together and actually combat colonial ways. This also led to the decline and elimination of colonies and "empires" over other places. People started to get smart and was no longer going to stand for this unfairness.
Not every country go to freedom quietly. While there were some that had peaceful transitions, some were not so pretty, and even guerrilla warfare broke out. Some countries viewed freedom as a nation with unity while others, like India and the Islamic world saw their nation through religion. Some led by communism, some led by religion.
India gained independence from Britain not too long ago. What emerged from this new independence was India and Pakistan, which I personally had no idea. British people were unable to assimilate into the Indian life, because their differences were too distinct. But the people of India wanted more and deserved more. This is where the movement towards freedom started rolling. Mahatma Gandhi who inspired MLK and many other leaders with nonviolence resistance, use that tactic to solve issues that India was dealing with. The was a little different from South Africa's struggle for independence. They were not under colonial rule, but instead they were under white man rule. The racial divide is a battle we keep seeing and still continue to struggle with.
What is interesting is we read in this chapter what happens next? What happens after independence. The more we read the chapter, the more and more it reveals "shit-hole" countries. The aftershock of being exploited to now having freedom but left with really no resources. While countries gained rights in other areas, it was still a struggle for most. The "developing" countries have a lot to catch up on, and the "better" off countries will not help.
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