Lingering Questions/Ideas after Discussion

1) What does the poem quoted from Rudyard Kipling on page 138 in Hochschild's book mean?

 "Ship me somewheres east of Suez,
where the best is like the worst,
Where there aren't no Ten Commandments,
an' a man can raise a thirst" (138 Hochschild). 


I understand why the chapter was called Where there Aren't no Ten Commandments, but aren't sure what "where the best is like the worst" and "an' a man can raise a thirst" means.

 2) The group discussion could have been better if those who did not speak much would have spoken more. The discussion of seven turned into a discussion of three and when the three of us held back from speaking there were long awkward pauses. Also, if the questions we were answering did not only have one direct answer and left space for opinions, they would be better discussion questions. It did not take us long to answer each question because they only had one direct answer and we read quotes to support. Something our group did well was using support from the book and explaining its significance to the discussion. We answered 4 questions.

Response to 'King Leopold's Ghost'

I liked how in the introduction to the book, the perspective of the Africans who's countries were being colonized by Europeans was taken. It almost reminded me of Howard Zinn's book, A People's History, when it is expressed that the Africans were "brutally suppressed" and their testimony was not heard in published documents (5 Hochshild). It is better to read about both perspectives and form an opinion yourself. When reading Kipling's,"The White Man's Burden," and Morel's, "The Black Man's Burden," there were plenty of evident contrasting opinions as to how the Africans reacted. It is very interesting to me to read King Leopold's Ghost because during the imperialism and the colonizing, no one cared enough to ask or document how the Africans felt about their culture being called "uncivilized" and being forced to abide by European customs. I am glad that E.D. Morel made an effort to paint a realistic picture of what imperialism was really like in Africa.

Q 1: What is considered "uncivilized"?
Q 2: What was the significance of slavery?

Imperialism/Colonialism notes

1. What you learned
I learned the reasons that France colonialized Haiti (for their natural resource, sugar). I also learned the difference between colonialism and imperialism. I thought they were the same but they are similar and have differences. I also learned the difference between New Imperialism and Old Imperialism. Another thing I learned were the motives for New Imperialism.

2. Questions
Were there any countries in Africa who did not allow their country to be taken over? (or that took back their country in a coup from European Control?)

3. Something you're curious about investigating further.
I am curious to further investigate Otabanga and the Africans enslaved and put in zoos and brought to St. Louis.