Idiot Wind: The British and French Concessions

The British and French Concessions

The British and French concessions in Shanghai and Tientsin were well-known - coined the "Whore of Asia", Old Shanghai has often been used as the background of many a popular movies in Hongkong due not only to its glamour but also the numerous interesting characters emerged during this period. Lesser known perhaps is the American concession which subsquently merged with the British concession to form the International concession.

What may sound interestingly familiar nowadays is the so-called "Box Rebellion". Eight powerful nations: Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States, joined hand and fought to defeat a common enemy, China. The "Boxers" were nothing more than a fragile attempt by the Chinese to drive out the privilaged foreigners occupying their land. One may call them "Secret Society", "Fanatics" or indeed whatever that will paint them in their proper color, it doesn't alter the fact that it's a simple straightforward "invasion" when Beijing was put under siege for 55 days - the international troops looted the capital and even ransacked the Forbidden City. When they joined hand, did they tell each other that there would be some serious looting to be done? No, as my kids will learn in school (if this part of history is ever taught in the West), these eight nations were merely protecting their own people from being harassed, captured or killed by these Boxers (in the land of the Boxers?). They were merely taking pre-exmptive action.

I am not saying this because I am anti-this or anti-that. History is about the past. It's over and there is no need to feel particularly bitter about it. But progress does depends, in part, on our ability to differentiate rights from wrongs, to learn from our history.

Fabricated patriotism is always easily sold. One thing for sure is that no one can bomb out terrorism. NO ONE! If eight is not grand enough, try 16 this time.

Posted on September 21, 2002 03:36 PM
Categories: The Ugly

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