I’ve noticed what I’d consider a substantial amount of hatred towards the British empire recently, and I’m not really sure why
The colonies we had were far better treated than most colonies of the era, or ever to be honest.
Almost every country has had empires that have treated their subjects terribly. But I’ve never seen anyone talking about the Roman, Mongolian, Persian, or Aztec empires with anything but being impressed. No one shits on the French, dutch or Spanish (who were notorisly cruel to their colonies).
The British empire was a huge part of ending the trans-atlanric slave trade. One of the first European countries to condemn it.
The British museum was set up to preserve artifacts which would have been looted or destroyed, not to mention it’s completely free to enter. Almost everything in there would have been lost (although I’ll admit the Greek stuff seems like it was probably not given)
Yet it seems we’re despised for by many people online, is it a fad?
That’s like someone from Germany being sad that hatred for the Nazi Party is thrown around so casually. Evil things from the past are evil. Hating them is the mark of morality. Them happening in the place you were born hundreds of years ago doesn’t mean you should take it personally. No one hates you for the actions of the Empire.
But hating Germans and hating Nazis isnt the same. The degree of separation is quite important.
So is the distinction between hating the British empire and British people. The empire caused mass harm around the globe, like the Nazis did. Your concern seems to be about people’s view of the empire, which would be similar to someone complaining that people unfairly hate the German government of the early-mid 1940s…
That’s exactly my point. Hating British people and hating the British empire isn’t the same, no one is doing that. Don’t take it personally, think critically, not defensively based on what invisible lines you happen to be born between. If you want the world to improve, hate imperialism, no matter where you are from.