.... building infrastructure, encouraging local economic
autonomy & development, and leaving the least mess behind
them. Certainly better than say Belgium.


Edgar wrote:
Thanks-I think... :-)


I've had the experience of talking with a few Indonesians
about their colonial history... the Dutch left a big mess
and a legacy of truly bitter hatred... you can always find
somebody that's worse!



big snip

It isn't the fault of Great Britain.

Agreed. None of the colonial powers ever seriously undertook
to build a stable & sef-sustaining social & economic
infrastructure to leave behind. And how can you blame them,
when that wasn't even close to what they were there for in
the first place?


Edgar wrote:
Remember that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India were once British
Colonies.


Canada was also a French colony, remember
Australia wasn't so much a colony as an open-air prison,
kind of a special case in many ways. There were some prison
colonies in the U.S. too. India might not feel they were
left in such great shape.

DSK