This also happened during the Portuguese conquest of Brazil. Colonial massacres, dispossession, subjugation. Some indigenous resistance followed by more massacres. And for those who asked: “Why more massacres?” The Portuguese explained: “They are attacking us, they have killed some of us and we have the right to defend ourselves.”

And again, at the time, most white Europeans agreed with the Portuguese. They acted as if the difference between the number of people killed by indigenous peoples and the number by settlers was immaterial. They acted as if who was invading whose home was unimportant, and as if who was subduing who was not important either. The only thing that mattered was, “They are attacking us, they have killed some of us and we have the right to defend ourselves.”

And again, some objected to this narrative, but didn’t see it for the warlike mantra that it was and spent their time trying to “correct” the colonizers, as if they were. seekers of truth.

During the European conquest of North America, the same thing happened with the Native Americans. And the same happened with the British in Asia, the French in North Africa, the Germans in southern Africa, the Italians in Libya and the Belgians in the Congo, and the Dutch in Indonesia, and, and.

They all conquered, massacred, appropriated land and when they resisted, they said: “They are attacking us, they have killed some of us and we have the right to defend ourselves”. Because those who are invaded and colonized can only defend themselves as best they can. Only those who have invaded and institutionalized their laws can have “the right to defend themselves”.

I have omitted quite a few examples, but I will not forget what happened on the ground from which I am writing. Because, guess what happened here? The British came and conquered. Likewise, colonial massacres, dispossession and subjugation followed. It was the same for a whole legal apparatus intended to legalize the theft of land and the rights of thieves. And again, indigenous resistance was followed by more massacres labeled as “retaliation.” And for those who asked: “Why more massacres? Australian settlers explained that these indigenous peoples were a serious murderous group; “They are attacking us, they have killed some of us and we have the right to defend ourselves.”

And of course, most white Europeans agreed. They acted as if the difference between the number of people killed by indigenous peoples and the number of Australian settlers killed was immaterial. They acted as if the only thing that mattered was the right to ‘retaliate’: ‘they are attacking us and they have killed some of us and we have the right to defend ourselves’.