White Man's Burden My A.......

These white men think they know everything around here, but I don’t trust them for one bit. They might look nice and all, but I know what they are up too. They want this place almost as much as we want it. They say that we are their burden but we are NOT their burden to bear. We can handle everything fine without their help. The chief does not believe that though, he wants them to help us. I heard that he trades people as slaves to get beer. I don’t believe this man, that he would trade his brothers and sisters for things he does not have. He is not overcome by stuff. He wants more and more. The white men want us to be more like them, but aren’t we all equal? I’m sure we are not compared to them. They think that we are savages or something. But they are the mad men, going around and telling other people that we are following the wrong religion, and that we cannot run anything, and that almost everything we do is wrong. Who are they to judge? What gives them the right to do that? These men come here with their clothes and shoes, and say that we are savages and that we are mad because we run around naked. This is what we have been doing for years, we don’t mind, I like the wind between my legs. Not only do they bring clothes, they also bring diseases and famine. They bring diseases on rats, diseases we don’t know how to cure. I am scared out of my mind. They also bring guns and fire-arms so that we can defend ourselves, from what? From them, if you ask me. I don’t like these tall, white, hairy, men. Better yet, I despise their existence. I also heard one of these men say that we are half child, half devil. What the H. we are the devils? Are you serious? How in god’s name are we devils? I don’t know what these men are up too but I don’t like it. I want them gone. Fast.

- Robbert van Doorn 10C

"The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling – Elie Weinstein 10A

You white men have ruined my life–all of our lives! Only g-d knows where my father is, or if he’s even alive after you took him away from us in shackles! And how dare you call our kind half-devils? How are we demonic in any way possible? Was it not you who savagely slaughtered our tribe’s men, stabbed us with those machines that spit pointed pieces of metal, took the stronger men on ships were we will never see them again, and used our food and resources? This is utterly ridiculous. Go away, leave us be. Go back where you came from, never to walk our land again! And to remind, we are certainly not burdens, and if you folk are so wound up in your religion, then how can you justify all of the terror and massacre you have caused. You are all nothing but barbarians. Why take what is ours when you have more? I fear that the effects that your kind have had on our minds, our bodies, and our home will have o dreadful, infinite impact on us all.

Wait, what's going on?!

What the hell?!
Who do you think you are, coming in and telling me what to do, what to say and everything else.

Our ways are fine, I just don't understand what you're doing here.
One minute a misionary is knocking on my door telling me that my religion isn't useful, and I should convert to Christianity or Muslim.. listen and pray to some other God; the next minute I have to give up my land to you guys.
What are we? Children? No? Well, you sure are treating us like one, I mean, it's nice that you build schools, and medical clinics, not to mention some gorgeous churches, but what's in it for you? Are you genuinly caring and helpful? If so, how can I believe you? You took away everything that was once ours: my family, my friends, even my enemies (not that that's a bad thing, but who am I supposed to kill now?); to be slaves in the big land of dreams they call the Americas.

Just like Chief Machemba said to Herman von Wissman: "If it be friendship that you desire, then I am ready for it... but to be your subject, that I cannot be... I do not fall at your feet, for you are God's ceature just as I am."

Confusion can be solved by talking, if you guys just sit down and talk with us, and live our lives for a bit, then you guys can tell us to change. Until then stay out of it, if we can't solve it, then you can't either.

I mean.. I just.. I guess.. well I don't know.. I just, well I just don't understand. Why do we need to change our ways? I guess that's all that I'm asking, is it that hard to give me an honest answer?


Sara de Jong
10A