English as a universal language

HappyG · Post by **HappyG** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:26 pm

Ovi wrote:At the time, one thing that the English Empire did well was to run countries and manage their economies. It wasn't just the English that benefitted either, most of the local populations had better conditions then they they currently do today. Considering the size, geographic diversity & cultural diversity I would say I am actually quite proud of what the empire achieved, certainly not ashamed!

I'd just like to add, that most of the problems Africa has today has it roots in borders that were set by European countries, borders which devided tribes and put different tribes inside artificial countries. Europe's borders are more or less set on ethnic borders, while Africa's ain't, and that's whats causing trouble.

PS: And Australia... well Aborigines got little from English colonisation...

Ovi · Post by **Ovi** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:28 pm

Sharkith wrote:I am afraid the kind of picture you paint is very rose tinted.

Maybe, since I was born and bred in England it is quite probable. However I would like to think that I have a fairly open mind, and have yet to see/read anything that has significantly changed my perspective.

Post by **Lieva** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:29 pm

[quote="Ovi"]stuff about english empire

would be a long post to quote it all m'dear ]

i thought it was the romans who had in fact established much of our culture etc .. so we were just expanding their influences not ours

Sharkith · Post by **Sharkith** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:33 pm

Ovi wrote:Maybe, since I was born and bred in England it is quite probable. However I would like to think that I have a fairly open mind, and have yet to see/read anything that has significantly changed my perspective.

There is a lot of info out there if you look. For example your right in every country the British went into they built a transport system that was designed for the extraction of raw materials. The infrastructure was actually useless to develop internal markets and did little for 'development'.

Post by **Lieva** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:34 pm

Maeloch wrote:On thought processes, the question is what throught processes where going on when he recorded Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds...

i was thinking many many drugs inspired that song...

the beatles may have taken them to write it but shatner was defo on it when he was singing it...

ever watch the video?
its too scary to be funny

HappyG · Post by **HappyG** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:35 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa#Col ... _Africa.22

Ovi · Post by **Ovi** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:40 pm

Banana wrote:i thought it was the romans who had in fact established much of our culture etc .. so we were just expanding their influences not ours

Our culture is more varied than just the Roman influence. From the time of the Roman empire the true British people are really the Welsh.

The peoples of Briton were pushed Westwards into Wales by the incoming Angles and Saxons. The Angles weren't in "England" at the time of the Roman empire, they came afterwards. There is no doubt that the Roman influence remained strong, but it certainly wasn't the only strong influence.

Post by **Lieva** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:43 pm

i thiought they never invaded scotland?
hadrians wall?

Ovi · Post by **Ovi** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:56 pm

HappyG wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa#Col ... _Africa.22

As I said, look at the actions with today's morals ...

I am sure that if we could go back in history, and have the ability to influence the morals & ethics things would turn out very differently. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Ovi · Post by **Ovi** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:00 pm

Banana wrote:i thiought they never invaded scotland?
hadrians wall?

Another very good example of why the Roman influence was not the only major influence on our culture by the time of the Empire.

In fact the Scottish influence was very significant. The Empire would never have been built without the significant (majority?) contribution from the "other side" of the wall.