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23.04.2022 Feature Article

The world is unfair

The world is unfair
23.04.2022 LISTEN

The Duke and Duchess of Wessex canceled the trip to the Caribbean on short notice. Islanders expressed their grievances over the involvement of the Royal family and the Monarchy as an institution during the time of slavery. Tribes in Namibia demand from Germany a huge lump sum for healing of the wounds caused by Colonial Germany. Ukraine starts calculating the cost of war inflicted on the nation by Russia including the cost of five million refugees for which in Germany German taxpayers have to pay € 3500 monthly for the ones that have made it to us so far (over 250.000 x 3500= € 875 million monthly).

The Roman Empire, the Osman Empire, the China Ming Dynasty, Napoleon Bonaparte wars in Europe, the war of the Achemenidian Empire, the Ashanti Empire in West Africa, and e.g. war against the Fantes 1806-07, Alexander the Great invasion of nations, the Holy Roman Empire of German descent wars, the Spanish invasion of South America, the European settlers taking lands by war from the natives in the lands, raise the important question whether or not aggressors need to be held morally and financially accountable for their action, how this must be calculated, can be enforced and when it can be seen as unrealistic but most painful to an old or new nation.

In ancient times nobody thought seriously of reparation even feeling the loss and pain as individuals or nations. The world consistently has become smaller and closer during the past few generations to is called globalization. The term includes the fact that countries cannot run away but are inclined even closer these modern days. Unlike humans that can separate from each other for good by getting divorced.

Germany has not asked France to pay reparation for the destruction by Napoleon's army, nor did Russia or other European countries. The successors of Alexander the Great, we were not asked by Egypt, India, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq to pay reparation. In ancient times and later war was regarded as another means of politics and not something to be held morally and financially to account.

The wars of the nineteenth century have not seen demands for reparation in peace treaties. The dancing Congress of 1815 in Vienna decided on the new structure of Europe after ousting Napoleon to his final exile from the continent.

World War I started to see a change in the thinking of relationships between occupied nations and aggressors be it in the framework of Colonialism or war for dominion over neighbors or taking territories inside nations by various fractions. World War II and the formation of the United Nations extended a change in the attitude toward the issue. (Germany paid reparation as set out in the peace treaty.)

The USA has still not compensated the native Indians for the harm caused regardless of promises made nor e.g. paid for the cost of the Iraq, Vietnam War, or Afghanistan wars caused on the foreign nations. It must be seen whether or not Russia will pay for preparation to Ukraine for damage to the nation.

Is anyone in for a bet with me for a bar of chocolate that Russia will refuse to pay? My take is: that they will laugh about any such idea. Does anyone have another view on it?

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