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Twotribes -> RE: What is your favorite WWII tank? (1/26/2007 1:11:23 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Knuckles_85
Concentration camp is a propoganda tool to equate a nation to Nazis. The death rate inside the interment camps where better thn outside them even though yes the Brits were pretty harsh.
Along that train of thought....
I would venture that American Slaves were in better conditions then if they were living in the African continent. Does not mean that that condition was acceptable, good, or even reasonable. The term Concentration Camp does bring up the horrors of WW2 camps, but it is an appropriate term for the camps in South Africa that the British set up.
The British did not provide adequete housing, medical supplies, medical personnel, bedding, cots or even food for the "interned" families. On top of that they specifically rounded up women and children and old people for no other reason then to terrorize the Boers into surrendering. Most if not ALL the camps were set up in abysmal spots. Along river banks or on open plains. Again the tents that were provided were old moldy, in most cases tattered and full of holes. And the occupants were required to provide their own bedding and in most cases if they didnt bring something to sleep on, at least at first, they slept on the cold ground.
Did it work? Sure did. I suspect if the US used those tactics or even the ones used in the Philippines Insurrection our enemies would be happy as an ant at a free picnic.
Even if the rounded up personnel were provided state of the art medical and dental care, high rise apartments and furnished rooms with over adequate food, the action of rounding up a civilian population and placing it behind barb wire would result in comparisons to WW2 camps. And while it might work, the arguement would be made that it would only work until such time as you eventually released the people "interned" or you killed everyone capable of fighting you.
Just look at what is said about the US rounding up Japanese descendants in the US during WW2 for a semi current comparison. OR better yet check out the hysteria by some over Gitmo and ACTUAL enemy combatents.
The British action in South Africa was barbaric. Both in the treatment provided and the REASON for the round up. The US internment of American citizens was illegal and while I wouldnt call it barbaric, I would call it hysteria and ulimately unneccassary.
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