Sunday, March 3, 2013

Psychology of Exploration

 Prior to reading this book, I could not find much wrong with the exploitation of material goods in foreign colonies other than the damage exporting these resources and harvesting them did to the earth. After reading part one of this book I realized I was severely mistaken. The gruesome acts that were committed against the natives in the Congo were deeply disturbing. It made me question my knowledge of what is occutring this very moment in the "far-flung" colonies. My ignorance is something that I believe I share with many others who too are simply on the receiving end of these goods. I believe there ought to be more strict regulation on companies who wish to exploit foreign soil. I believe as a first-world country we often have a savior complex. This in and of itself is a major issue with exploration. We view ourselves as better because of the material success we have had as a country and use this as a suitable excuse to invade, in order to "help" other  countries obtain the success we have. The twisted outcome of this mentality is currently causing the suffering of many children in Haiti:

"The practice of Restavek - from a French word meaning "to stay with" - began with the noble intentions of educating children from rural villages. But over the years, the practice has become twisted. The result is that many children are now exploited rather than helped." -Leif Coorlim

One underlying question this book presented was whether our riches make us successful. Hoshchild demonstrated how Leopold's country in no way favored him as a leader and in fact many of the explorers were unhappy and troubled. I beg to argue that their psychological troubles and disturbances far outweigh the physical  and economic troubles the native population suffered prior to the arrival of Leopold. Certainly, their situation did not improve after his "exploration". Part one has clearly demonstrated the issues that can arise from exploration. 

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