Theme Notebook

Friday, March 25, 2011

Ethnocentric view causes conflict between cultures

The British ethnocentric views towards the aboriginals caused conflict between the two groups. The British colonizers looked down on the aboriginals because the culture differed greatly, and the aboriginals were uncivilized. For these reasons, the British judged the First Australians as barbarous savages and animals, insulting their culture. As a result, the aboriginals were outraged by the disrespectful actions of the colonizers and decided to fight back, causing violence, death and war between the two cultures.
When the British first arrived in Bennelong's territory, the British claimed that overtaking the land is legal since they considered the aboriginals as animals, and animals couldn't own land. As a solution for wiping-out these "animals", small-pox was released, only affecting the aboriginals since the British were immune to the virus. So far, it is clearly shown how the colonsist will do anything possible for their successful colonization, identifying the aboriginals like animals simply because the aboriginals were different from their culture. Moreover, The British brought new food sources from their homeland, digging out the native's food and replacing it with their crops; just because they wanted food that they liked.
Leaded by a warrior named Pamulwuy, the aboriginal responded to the British, giving a payback by breaking the legs of animals and burning down the crops of the colonists. Although the natives thought that cutting down the food source was a payback, the British became furious and declared war. During this war, the colonist shown no mercy at all, even to woman or kids. In fact, the main goal was to kill all woman or kids possible to put the aboriginal race into extinction.
Meanwhile, the aboriginal leader Bennelong went to England with Governor Phillip. The British thought that the aborignials could change and live a more "civilized life". However, the plans were useless when Bennelong decided to return to Australia due to depression and loneliness. The English newspaper described Bennelong as a "drunk", "barbarian", and no matter what they do it is impossible to change his savageness. Yet again, the British only from their point of view and never thought of the Aboriginals/Bennelong' point of view. This ethnocentricity of the British colonist triggered negative relationships between the two groups and gradually ended in fight war and conflicts.

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