Colonialism and Outrage - Won-gyung

By: Won-gyung

Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. regards history chronicles as acceptable outrages. What is outrage? Literally, outrage means an intense feeling of anger and shock; in addition, acceptable outrage means that it was normal and allowed in the past, but it doesn’t concede anymore. Many outrages still exist in our society; for example, gladiators, slavery, racism and colonialism. I believe colonialism is acceptable outrage in the past and the present.

Above all, let’s talk about what colonialism is. Colonialism is the establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a set of unequal relationships between the colonial power and the colony and often between the colonists and the indigenous population. Colonialism is also connected with imperialism. From the 18th century to mid-20th century, several European countries such as Spain, England and France concentrated on establishing and expending colonies in Asia, Africa and America. At that time, it was acceptable in the perspective of countries which had colonies. They needed more resources to make products and more markets where they could sell the products. Therefore, the powers stole small countries’ national sovereignty, and made the people who lived in small countries their slaves. However, now people don’t think that colonialism isn’t acceptable. The nation is given one country’s national sovereignty. It is natural these days.

Colonialism seems to disappear after the Second World War; however, it still remains, and there are two reasons why I mentioned that colonialism is acceptable outrage in the present at first.

First, there is a colony so far. Western Sahara which is situated at the western of Africa struggles for independence up to now. Second, there is a new type of colonialism so called cultural colonialism. Each country has its own culture and tradition, but at some points, western culture or some the powers’ culture occupies room instead of own culture. For example, Korea has own tradition and culture. However, Korean youth generation doesn’t have interest about tradition because they think tradition is old thing; they are enthusiastic west culture instead of own tradition. If they aren’t concerned about their own tradition and culture, the tradition and culture will disappear in history and only one culture holds all over the world. It can become colonialism in the present and the future. In conclusion, this is why that colonialism is an acceptable outrage.