Colonialism, anyone
From Queen Victoria to World War II colonialism controlled or governed much of Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Great Britain, France and lesser European countries had a foot on someone’s neck somewhere in the world. We’ve read Kipling, seen Lawrence of Arabia, lived through the French and American disasters in Vietnam, and watched Africa hemorrhage to know all we need to know about colonialism.

Following the war the colonial powers were in a state of national exhaustion and unable to mount the campaigns necessary to hold onto their empires. The demand for self-rule was too strong. The United States championed national freedom and home rule everywhere. The colonial empires fell apart, and the world moved on. There really hasn’t been a demand for a return to colonialism ever since. Until now.

A British commentator, Robert Fisk, has contributed his thoughts to solving “this filthy war” in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. His suggestion is a return to colonialism. Given that no one with any authority seems to have a workable solution to the problem, Mr. Fisk is entitled to chip in with his. Mr. Fisk, by the way, is not further identified on the web site (independent.co.uk) where his lengthy commentary was published. Maybe he is just a common Joe like the rest of us.

His suggestion – and it is more in the form of a “rash, fearful prediction,” that American and NATO troops will be in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza - and in Israel. He predicts Jerusalem will be an international city. The Palestinians will have security. So will the Israelis.

(Originally published in The Hanahan News, Hanahan, SC, May 22, 2002)

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