On Thu, 6 Feb 2003, Robert Seeberger wrote: re: white man's burden > I see this as a bitter diatribe against imperialism and not so much as a > ralling cry for colonialism. > Of course I am not a Kipling expert and my interpretation is only informed > by my own experience writing poetry. I find the sarcasm blatant and laden > with cynisism.
To my (admittedly slight) knowledge Kipling was a critic of abusive colonial practices (and of what struck him as a naive American enthusiasm for colonialism in the Phillipines) but a supporter of the idea of a Christian colonial empire. I see in the poem a deep disillusionment with the colonial project combined with a belief it is nevertheless the right thing to do, if done "right." Marvin Long Austin, Texas Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Poindexter & Ashcroft, LLP (Formerly the USA) http://www.breakyourchains.org/john_poindexter.htm _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
