Having witnessed communist terrorism in Malaya, these terrorists would commonly ambush and machine-gun a bus full of innocent citizens, or throw hand-grenades into packed cinemas - all their own people. This was the way to exert their power and terrorise ordinary people to comply with their wishes. Their wishes could extend from harbouring them, to financing them, to feeding them, to clothing them, to giving out government information - anything they needed or wished to achieve. Anyone who confronted or challenged them was immediately killed - even members of their family.

They had absolutely no conscience about their actions, which they saw as replacing the evils of democracy and capitalism, with a communist utopia.

This is my experiece of what terrorism means.

Danielle,

That pretty much coincides with what I observed in what was then called Rhodesia and is today Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe's ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) thugs killed anyone who got in their way.

Come to think of it, what has changed?

Of course, in fairness, the White Government of Ian Smith were no saints themselves.

Steven.....this is the point where you start to 'wonder' about me :)

I happen to find it no less 'barbaric' for Mugabe to do what he is doing, (and in the process reversing one of the great crimes against humanity, perpetrated by white colonialists) than what the Whites did to the Blacks a bit earlier.

Can you see any difference ? This should be good.

I wonder how you might have felt if you were one of the 90% of black driven off their land when the whites came ? Hmmmmm just possibly like the Whites are NOW feeling as the blacks take their land BACK.

Was the white takover more 'compassionate' more humane ? more sympathetic to the crying children ?

Your comment shows a lot about 'racial/centrism' :)... "Its ok to destroy lives and take land as long as its US who is doing it.. but then those we did it to do it back to us.. oooh..shock horror..its barbaric thugs, militants and terrorists ...

I have no ethnic sympathy for the descendants of the whites who directly took over, OR for those who then came along and BOUGHT the stolen land. Its just how life is.. you take.. you lose.. etc. its about enemies and friends.

Fortunately the Kingdom of God and its values are not like that.

Human history is the history of giving and taking.. mostly taking other peoples stuff/land.

Danielle... sounds like you have an interesting life, I'd love to know more about your Malayan experience.. I had similar but not with Communists.
newlifeinhim777@yahoo.com.au

Gee Boaz, it's a good job there are less than half a million aborigines left, isn't it?

>>I happen to find it no less 'barbaric' for Mugabe to do what he is doing, (and in the process reversing one of the great crimes against humanity, perpetrated by white colonialists) than what the Whites did to the Blacks a bit earlier<<

So tell me, does this indicate that you would be in favour of an armed uprising of our native Australians, and actively support any violent attempt on their part to reverse "one of the great crimes against humanity, perpetrated by white colonialists."

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but that sounds a very odd stance for a Christian to take. Publicly, at least.

>>I have no ethnic sympathy for the descendants of the whites who directly took over, OR for those who then came along and BOUGHT the stolen land<<

That is subtle - what exactly do you mean by "ethnic sympathy"?

Can this be the same Boaz who advocates "Ein Reich, ein Volk, ein Führer" as the mantra for Australian values? Errr, sorry, I meant "One Nation, One Culture, One Race".

Pericles.....

I am making observations of history. Can you honestly make a qualitative differentiation between Mugabe now and the Brits 'then'?
Please don't give me the "But but..'we' civilized them" argument.

In response to your point about "Thank goodness there are only a few aboriginals left" .."Historically" speaking.. yes, you bet ur white rear end there are not many left. Because the influences being brought to bear on the "angry young men" among the Indigenous community is seeking to persuade them that they have legitimate grievances and that they can solve them through violence and rebellion.
"Historically" that last sentense is "correct but futile" they DO have legitimate grievances, but they don't have the wherewithall to do much about it.... but.. if the figures were like 55% Whites and 45% indigenous.. with the same grievances.. only a fool would think they would not be tempted to try some 'redress'.

Its not that I 'support' such a thing, but I would understand it. Just like I would understand the reaction from the white community.
When it comes to such things, my personal view is.. as I oultined in 'ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE ONE RACE'.. which you seem to feel is borderline Fascism. It worked for England.. (with the partial exception of Scotland and Wales) where the Anglo Saxons took over, but also intermarried, now.. they are all 'Brits'.

How many Brits(even you) induldge in ethnic history naval gazing to try to work out who to hate ? Hence.. in answering 'very few if any' you are also acknowledging that the solution is as I suggest.. "ONE"ness.....

stevenlmeyer,

I have never liked colonialism, even in Malaya, which was a British colony. But for the communist insurgency, Malaya would have become an independent sovereign state much earlier. In 1948 the last territory, the island of Labuan, joined the rest of Malay states to become the Federation of Malaya.  Singapore remained a separate colony. Sir Gerald Templar, Commander-in-Chief of the British and Commonwealth forces desired an independent Malaya, free of colonial rule. However, the mainly ethnic communist Chinese who had fought against the Japanese during WWII, resented the new federation. This resulted in the Malay Emergency. Whilst the Federation of Malaya gained sovereign independence in 1957, the Malay Emergency was not declared officially over until 1960.

Whilst local peoples suffered dreadfully under communist terrorism (which was intended
to instil fear and compliance), Europeans were the main targets, and we lost many good friends at that time. But, after all, we Europeans were controlling an Asian country. I understood communist attitudes towards Europeans better than I could accept what they were doing to their own people. This is what I saw as terrorism.

British Colonial Officers, serving in Malaya at the time independence was granted, were released from their duties by Whitehall. However, the Malay government immediately offered them contracts to serve in the same capacity as they had under Britain. There wasn't even a hiccup when the changeover took place. Administration at all levels remained the same. No changes were implemented until much, much later, possibly as late as the 1970's.