6/10/2006
"Can colonialism be a force for good?"
Monday 6th November saw the fifth Public Speaking Forum of 2006/7 in the Harold Wilson Room. The topic this week was "Can colonialism be a force for good?" The speakers were Anna Welsh for the proposition and Kymn Butcher opposing. James Fraser acted as Chairman. Cakes present were Chocolate Indulgence, Coffee Cream and French Fancies. The initial vote was cast in favour of the proposition with a large number of abstentions.
Anna opened the debate citing the economic issues behind colonialism, how the colonial experience was founded on trade and brought with it a number of advantages to colonised countries. She cited the vast developments made during the colonial era including opportunities for education of colonised peoples, and the benefits of economic development.
Kymn argued that the colonial experience was for many a bad thing, and that these percieved benefits did not outweigh the disadvantages including the wiping out of many indiginous peoples through disease brought upon them unintentionally by the colonial powers, the loss of indiginous heritage, citing the example of the Caribbean where descendents of African slaves have little concept of their African heritage, be it language, culture or even knowing from which part of Africa one's ancestors originated. Furthermore the imposition of cultural norms by the colonial powers had the effect of creating an idealism towards European cultural ideals to the detriment of indiginous culture.
There followed a floor discussion in which various issues were discussed including the remaining colonial possessions and the relationships with their colonial masters, the different experiences of different parts of the world (for example India and the African continent), the difference in approach between France and Britain on integration of their colonies into the state. The final vote was cast in favour of the proposition but with an even swing, so the debate was declared a draw. It was resolved that the topic of the next forum would be "Should Saddam Hussein be hanged?" following the previous day's news that the former Iraqi dictator had been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity.
Monday 6th November saw the fifth Public Speaking Forum of 2006/7 in the Harold Wilson Room. The topic this week was "Can colonialism be a force for good?" The speakers were Anna Welsh for the proposition and Kymn Butcher opposing. James Fraser acted as Chairman. Cakes present were Chocolate Indulgence, Coffee Cream and French Fancies. The initial vote was cast in favour of the proposition with a large number of abstentions.
Anna opened the debate citing the economic issues behind colonialism, how the colonial experience was founded on trade and brought with it a number of advantages to colonised countries. She cited the vast developments made during the colonial era including opportunities for education of colonised peoples, and the benefits of economic development.
Kymn argued that the colonial experience was for many a bad thing, and that these percieved benefits did not outweigh the disadvantages including the wiping out of many indiginous peoples through disease brought upon them unintentionally by the colonial powers, the loss of indiginous heritage, citing the example of the Caribbean where descendents of African slaves have little concept of their African heritage, be it language, culture or even knowing from which part of Africa one's ancestors originated. Furthermore the imposition of cultural norms by the colonial powers had the effect of creating an idealism towards European cultural ideals to the detriment of indiginous culture.
There followed a floor discussion in which various issues were discussed including the remaining colonial possessions and the relationships with their colonial masters, the different experiences of different parts of the world (for example India and the African continent), the difference in approach between France and Britain on integration of their colonies into the state. The final vote was cast in favour of the proposition but with an even swing, so the debate was declared a draw. It was resolved that the topic of the next forum would be "Should Saddam Hussein be hanged?" following the previous day's news that the former Iraqi dictator had been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity.
posted by Debating and Public Speaking Society | 3:03 PM
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