For example, Mackenzie's campaign for Khama III was part of his 30-year effort to protect African land from white settlers. Mackenzie was not atypical. In China, missionaries worked to end the opium trade; in India, they fought to curtail abuses by landlords; in the West Indies and other colonies, they played key roles in building the abolition movement. Back home, their allies passed legislation that returned land to the native Xhosa people of South Africa and also protected tribes in New Zealand and Australia from being wiped out by settlers.Given our tendency to think of nothing good when considering colonialism, this is a surprising result. Worth passing on I think.
Bill Morrow once quipped that the whole Old Testament is about governance - I think I agree with him - but what is healthy governance and how do we get there from here (where here is, even in our own world, a tendency towards self-preservation rather than governance).
I am a bit confused in the expression of missionary. Some will always see that term as taking over and removal of all existing normal thoughts for conversion purposes. I would agree the OT is based upon governance and rules. Without those guides and posts would all of society in all cultures developed. I would argue that missionary work and colonialism were not linked in any way but the earnest will of various churches to overextend their dogma on a culture with no consideration of what was good and working already.
ReplyDeleteYes - missionary has rather too wide a set of connotations. I think the real issues are about justice or love made visible. It is too clear that people in power (colonial or not) will protect self-interest at the expense of others. The 'missionary' that has the love of the people at heart will be corrected from such a view. So I think it is with the self-sacrifice of the teacher and the health worker but the forces ranged against them are significant.
ReplyDeleteWhen you hear of all those who complain and argue that social attitudes or values are in the wrong, they seldom view it was a former case, not the views of today. It is more important to do that which needs to be done, correction, adjusting to amend, or remove the concern from happening again. Then social community want to be involved in the moderation, however never to be listed as those who became involved. The problems of changing is that few people like us seek to work for a better way. Too many are reluctant, unwilling or against being known for what we the willing are prepared to roll up sleeves, work for the purpose of a cause for little more than hearing those who were there at the time of what was done, not considered but left for others to achieve.
ReplyDeleteMY legacy project is about doing good things well, properly and without fear. If that makes me known for who I am, not who I sat in a committee room with for ages, in discussions, that is my choice, not their problem. No doubt the true test is ability and effort, regardless of self protect of those who are against social justice with a culture now gone and removed by history. History teaches, will and effort makes a difference for better or at best we could do it by good intentions.