Reply to Mayoman
Hello Mayoman.
Mark Twain wrote in 1897 that: ‘The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice.'
My own view is that history has largely been written (documented) by those with the capability and power to make their version of events ‘stick'. Here in the UK we witnessed the blatant attempts to ‘airbrush' Lady Diana Spencer from history, when she was brutally killed in suspicious circumstances. Unfortunately, for those who wished this to happen, the ‘ordinary-people' did not forget and still ‘blame' those who tried to write their own version of events'. Perhaps Diana will eventually go the way of Pocahontas and be immortalised by Disney as a fictional figure.
As for Irish History, it seems to me to have been mainly written by the English and therefore has a distinctly ‘colonial' bias.
Of Course, (as they say) there are always more sides to the story than are presented by those in charge! Other perspectives are often obtained via the medium of song, poetry, or simply word of mouth handed down through the generations and rarely forgotten(especially by the ‘victims' and their descendants).
As my life's work has included trying to give ‘victims' a voice, I have contemplated the English version of Irish history and wrote a rhyme entitled ‘WHEN HIST'RY'S WRIT THROUGH IRISH EYES'. However, I feel sure that I have shared this one with you before so, below I will share a rhyme which offers a more broad view of historical British colonialism.
Best wishes
Bill
HISTORY.
Britain has a long tradition
of avoiding the perdition
of countries that they colonised
preferring that they patronised.
Their rule was often quite downbeat
and largely left to the elite
to run their own country's affairs
as if the British were not there.
And yet there was the weirdest twist
because the British did insist
that in return for no showdown
the natives recognised the crown.
They'd also adhere to the law
the British had made up before
because they knew that laws were key
to how society would be.
Their law supported monarchy
along with the oligarchy
and this was what the British knew
was all they really had to do.
The natives would do all the work
to make sure peasants did not shirk
and so the systems were all set
to profiteer without a sweat.
Then as the years would slowly pass
it profited the upper class
to make sure it all stayed the same
and natives would be there to blame.
Because they're social engineers
such systems worked for them for years
whilst others did their dirty deed
they reaped rewards to feed their greed.
B. Withers 2015
(p317 in ‘Bullying' 2016)
