The Great Defender of Values : Patten to the Rescue from the Dreaded Chinese Menace:
Ah, the English. A nation that, over the centuries, mastered the art of setting the world on fire while sipping tea and insisting it’s for everyone else’s good. Starting in the 17th century, the Anglo-Saxons felt it was their divine right to sail around the globe, planting flags, claiming lands, and “civilising” the heathens. Of course, this was just their polite way of saying they fancied the world’s resources for themselves. Gold, spices, people—everything was ripe for the taking. They didn’t just want a slice of the imperial pie; they wanted the whole bakery. And why not? They were English, after all. Rule Britannia and all that.
Fast forward to today, and it seems the English, or at least their cultural heirs, still haven’t quite kicked their sense of entitlement. Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong and now stepping down as Oxford chancellor, warns of China’s “threat” to British values. Curious, isn’t it? After centuries of imposing their values on the globe—whether anyone asked for them or not—they now feel the need to defend those very values from the “foreign threat.” The irony of it all is enough to make you choke on your Earl Grey.
One wonders if this newfound anxiety over China has anything to do with the fact that, for once, the Anglo-Saxons are no longer the dominant force reshaping the world. They’re so used to getting their way that the idea of sharing the global stage—whether with the Chinese, Indians, or anyone else—seems like an affront to their historical entitlement. Oh, how the mighty tremble when the balance of power starts to shift.
And here we are, centuries after they carved up continents, hearing them fret about the erosion of “freedom of expression” and “debate” at universities. This from the people who once thought it perfectly reasonable to impose their will on vast swathes of the globe without so much as a debate in Parliament about the consequences. One might be tempted to ask: isn’t it a bit rich to lecture others about “erosion of values” when your own history is a masterclass in eroding the rights and cultures of everyone you encountered?
But fear not. The English will no doubt find a way to square this circle. After all, they’ve had centuries of practice convincing themselves that they’re the moral custodians of the world. Let them enjoy their cake, as long as they still believe it’s theirs to eat, too.