"Shooting an Elephant"

Questions

1. How much should someone else’s perception of us influence our actions?
2. Are we more likely to not act like ourselves when others are watching?
3. Is imperialism good or bad for the country being occupied?

Response

            The question I will be answering is, is imperialism good or bad for the country being occupied? Imperialism has always been apart of world history. All the great empire of history has practiced imperialism. The British were the biggest empire for the greater part of the 20^th century. They still might be today. The essay takes place in Burma which has been occupied by the British. The Burmese do not seem too fond of the British that are there. I think that is true for all countries that are being occupied by an outside power. Sure these powers, whether it is the United States of America, Great Britain, or the Roman Empire, are trying to help the people of this country by giving them stability economically or some other way. But these powers that come to occupy these end up not doing this. Yes in the short term they might, but in the long run they start to assimilate the people into their culture and usually come there to get some type of resource that is specially grown in that country. Imperialism brings a lot of hate towards the country that has occupied, which usually causes violence and death. The people being occupied are forced to learn the ideals of the outside country. These ideals are life styles, food, language, traditions, and pop culture. Even down in Louisiana there is a heavy French influence from when they occupied that territory. There are still people down there that can not speak English and only speak French. Sure there are some benefits of imperialism, but in the long run it only leaves a bad taste and usually a lot of hatred in the peoples’ mouths.