[Veen]

I agree that recent colonizations are more relevant politically and morally to the present day. But I do think we have to see Western colonialism as part of a universal behavior exhibited by human societies. We should make an effort to understand the history in its full complexity.

My motivation is not to minimize the abhorrent behavior of the British during that period, but to ensure that we don't make it out to be something uniquely evil that cannot be repeated in the future.

(And I do think it is important to see WWII in its historical context: the formation of the Holy Roman Empire, the rise of Prussian dominance, the Treaty of Versailles, etc. To do so doesn't minimize the responsibility of Germany in the 30s and 40s, but it does help us to understand the complexities behind the simplifying narratives of all sides.)

[filleduchaos]

We do see World War 2 in its historical context, and we manage to discuss them all the time without making absolutely sure to work in "well we should all be grateful to the Nazis for the advances in science and technology that they drove, let us consider Both Sides" at every opportunity.

We are simply asking you to extend the same intellectual grace when discussing and teaching about colonialism, which by-the-by was going on at the same time as the world wars.

[Veen]

The "let's consider both sides" approach is part of the problem. I don't want to consider the partisan or ideologically motivated narratives of both sides — at least not in isolation — because they are equally likely to be false. Instead I want to understand what actually happened, its causes and consequences, and how it relates to other historical events.

It is an unfortunate reality that the victims of colonialism have no more of a monopoly on the truth than the perpetrators.