10-21-2020, 05:06 AM
Recently protestors tore down a statue of King Leopold II in Belgium. It was done because supposedly he was one of the worst monsters of the 20th century. And I thought who the hell is Leopold II?
Now, I know. And he could be categorized as one of the worst monsters of all time with roughly 10 Million dead during his ownership of the Belgian Congo. And it was his. It wasn't Belgium's. Basically, Leopold sent Henry Stanley of Stanley and Livingstone fame to the Congo to set up military forts and sign contracts with the Congolese to basically give him rights to everything. And if the locals didn't like it, he sent soldiers to enforce it. Spears were no match for repeating rifles.
Since the people were black, he didn't much care if they lived or died as long as his quotas for first ivory and then rubber were met. It was ghastly. Lots of ghastly.
The book gives a great overview of the region and how it was subjugated by Leopold. It also goes into the accounts of the people who came to resist Leopold's regime.
It's really good book for the historians among us.
Now, I know. And he could be categorized as one of the worst monsters of all time with roughly 10 Million dead during his ownership of the Belgian Congo. And it was his. It wasn't Belgium's. Basically, Leopold sent Henry Stanley of Stanley and Livingstone fame to the Congo to set up military forts and sign contracts with the Congolese to basically give him rights to everything. And if the locals didn't like it, he sent soldiers to enforce it. Spears were no match for repeating rifles.
Since the people were black, he didn't much care if they lived or died as long as his quotas for first ivory and then rubber were met. It was ghastly. Lots of ghastly.
The book gives a great overview of the region and how it was subjugated by Leopold. It also goes into the accounts of the people who came to resist Leopold's regime.
It's really good book for the historians among us.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm