Putting aside the cinematic horror, a grudge is typically defined as a “feeling of ill will or resentment”, which many have felt but the effects can be permanent. Just among friends, grudges can sit like a corrosive acid and burn through the conscience of the “grudge holder” or the nature of the friendship. That aspect of acidity does not diminish when considering larger levels of grudges, in fact, it only increases. At this point, we’ve moved past the smaller levels of grudges and look at the level that has the ability to structure the nature of entire racial generations: historical grudges.
Historically resentment has branched from the effects of imperialism. In terms of imperialism, the source of resentment is a result of the unfair treatment of the native people, the effects of which have reverberated through the generations. The largest imperialist power was Britain, whose domain covered many countries but primarily focused on Asia. In terms of history taught in school the most repeated lesson for British imperialism has been: the American colonies. Now the tale is one that many know (kids in APUS basically know this by heart), but the first 13 colonies in the United States rebelled against its monarchical ruler Britain, which resulted in the American Revolution. The 18-year war is a success story, but the fates of the other British colonies didn’t follow this path.
The relationship between England and Korea is one that hasn’t been noted down in the history books; in fact, much of Korea’s fate has been pushed aside in terms of history.
In school, it’s quite rare to even hear of the status of the Asian countries, let alone hear of British warfare within Korea. Some proclaim that the relationship between the two countries has been established on “mutual ignorance”, however the mutual aspect can be argued due to the heavy handed conflict felt primarily by one side. Though diplomatic ties aren’t stated until 1949 by the Republic of Korea, England was involved with the nation before then. Taking over the Korean island of Geomun in 1885, the British Navy created a base near the country with no notice. Korea became a testing ground for wartime among the greater powers, effects of which won’t easily be forgotten by the people. Later on, ties became more strained between the two nations when Japan invaded Korea and created a strife that has passed down for ages.
Once the Korean War divided a nation into two halves, the aftermath of history’s acts comes down to societal understandings. In terms of England, there aren’t many Asian countries that don’t hold some hostility towards the nations for the wartime/imperialist acts of the nation. Between Japan, China, and Korea, the “historical hostility” has developed to the point that a bitter resentment has embedded itself among the roots of the nations. The conflicts stemming from the tumultuous time of World War II have affected the people physically, emotionally, and mentally. The resentment hangs heavy above the heads of the nations as they attempt to make peace years later in order to not dim the potential of a brighter future, however, each nation cautiously prepares themselves in the case of future problems. Much of the strife and agony Korea has been put through has fallen on deaf ears, if it even gets a chance to make a noise.
Personally, the extent or the details of what the country has had to deal with from other Superpowers was not taught to me until a friend passed down the information in college. But that in and of itself shows the effect, generations later a young Korean girl carries with her the history of the turmoil of her country passed down from recollections and lessons taught by her family. The effects of the resentment held may vary, but lessons are passed down nonetheless.
The notion of a grudge being passed down comes from personal experience. Much of what Korea went through was felt in another Asian subcontinent: India. The relationship between India and England may cause a light bulb to go off in one’s mind due to the history lessons that are taught, but really to what extent? Schools pass down the information of India’s fate once it fell under British rule and was transformed into a subservient colony; however that wasn’t always the case. Though England entered India as early as the 1600s, its military presence wasn’t made known in the South Asian country until about 1857. When the English nation first came to India, it was comprised of multiple principalities, allowing for the nation to establish a framework of convoluted treaties and alliances promising fortune but delivering dominance.
The British East India Company ran India as its own domain until a failed mutiny in 1857 led to England’s military powers coming in and establishing India as its “crown jewel.” To recognize an entire country with hundreds of its own cultures and knowledge as an empire’s own “jewel” speaks more volumes than mere words can state on paper. Going well into the late 19th century, Britain began to take more land by pushing the native royals to sign away the land in order to escape crippling debt. Cash crops began rampant in a nation that thrived off of self-sufficient agriculture; soon a convoluted hierarchical system was established within the nation that promoted racism within its own people. Many historians even say that the British helped the caste system thrive and used it to their advantage to continue their control. Even though it's now illegal, the system has become a social norm within the older generations who then pass the prejudice down to younger generations.
Yes, many know the name of Mahatma Gandhi, but what about the other stories? No world history class teaches of Jawaharlal Nehru and his nine prison sentences while serving the Indian National Congress in his aim to defeat the British.
No one knows of the agony of the Jallianvala Bagh Massacre that took place in 1919 where a senior British military officer fired relentlessly at unarmed Indians, predominantly of the Sikh faith. In their holiest city Amritsar stands the memorial for the hundreds killed for no other reason than to squash the unrest growing in civilians’ hearts.
India did not gain its independence until 1947, the same year America served under its 33rd President Harry S. Truman. The same year America underwent the Cold War and the preliminary discoveries of nuclear power generation was the same time the people of India had finally ended over 250 years of British rule and gained independence. But the effect of 250 years does not subside easily. Borders had been divided and tensions skyrocketed among faiths and denominations, the pain of which is still felt today. It’s easy to point at developing nations and point out severe flaws, however, these comparisons are unrealistic. India as its own country is only 69 years, within 69 years America had time to gradually progress through its own faults. England was able to fight its wars and recover at a pace that made more sense. Young nations are being thrown into a world where their “superpower” counterparts had hundreds of years to grow and develop beyond their initial problems.
The psychological effects Imperial nations had on their colonial countries may not be easy to label because of current socio-political issues, however, that does not erase the effect. The idolization of Anglo-Saxon features, the ever standing tensions between borders, and the delayed start at building a strong political foundation find their roots in the years of imperial times. The current problems of nations have bred and grown off of the foundation created years ago. It’s not easy to just forgive actions of a nation because it happened long ago. It’s not easy when the effects can still be seen to this day within each native member of the country.
It speaks more volumes when India’s crown jewel, the Kohinoor diamond, rests atop the head of British royalty rather than be returned to the land it was taken from.
Historical grudges run deep and far, but tracing them back teaches more about their existence than expected.
