From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxm!houxa!houxi!houxz!ihnp4!ixn5c!inuxc!inuxd!arlan
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Title: Re: What if Isabella...
Article-I.D.: inuxd.246
Posted: Wed Feb  2 12:27:19 1983
Received: Thu Feb  3 05:19:39 1983
References: tekcad.343

Although we Anglophiles are certain to bring down the flames upon ourselves,
let me say that I totally agree with Keith Lofstrom's contention that the
world would be better off had Isabella said "No" and the English settled
more of the New World.  With arguable exceptions, the colonized world's
only bright spots are those where the English concept of civilization took
hold--US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, parts of South Africa (I know the
flack'll start there, but the RSA is the only African nation that feeds
itself; for a look a what would happen if the white government falls, look
at the wonderful progress being made in neighboring Rhodesia--the real name
of that piece of territory.)
Would that all of the New World were English-speaking democracies; Spain
and Portugal would never have brought their misery upon the advanced
nations extant in the 1500s.  Perhaps the English would have negotiated
with the Incas and Aztecs and a new society established without the near
extermination of the native cultures down there.
With all of North and south America progressive and productive, the
treatment of all native populations would have been better. (Why fight
Indian Wars when there's alot of land for all?)

I was reminded, when watching the movie, "Ghandi", of a scene from
Monty Python's "Life of Brian", where the Jewish rebels ar discussing
the effects of Roman occupation upon Israel:
"Well, aside from public health, literacy, uniform codes of law, great
highways, peace, and prosperity, what have the Romans brought us, huh?"

As compared to the Inquisitional tactics used by Isabella and her
contemporary countrymen, I do wish we could go back and tell her to
imprison Columbus immediately, rather than waiting twenty years.

--A mixed breed of English, French, Dutch, and Cherokee, I am
 arlan andrews, american bell, indianapolis--on lunch hour.