black-telephone-is-off-the-hook:
Daenerys
is not a colonialist and I will have to scream it from the rooftops at the rate
this fandom seems to misunderstand colonialism.Let me clarify further: Most (sane) fans agree that Daenerys
isn’t an outright racist, but tends to think that she acts like a colonialist.
(Mostly because she is white.) However,
there is a difference between multiculturalism and colonialism. Colonialism
tends to follow a pattern: genocide – slavery – exploitation of natural
resources – oppression of marginalized. While individual countries have differing
experiences, every colonised country have experienced at least one or more of
the above.Let’s have a look at these:
1. Genocide: The
most famous example is what happened to Native Americans. Huge number of them
were killed, or they were forced to flee to fringe lands to save themselves.
The occupying/colonialist force settled on the fertile and prime areas and
started their country/rule while the natives were displaced and denied access
to facilities/privileges of the new rule.Daenerys hasn’t performed genocide. Killing slave masters
who crucified children doesn’t count as genocide. It wasn’t based on
racial/ethnic lines, but rather on the actions of the accused. Even slave
masters can continue to live in Mereen as long as they do not abide by slavery.
They are treated like every other citizen. This is not colonialist.2. Slavery: The most
famous example is what happened to many tribes in Africa. There are also
indentured servants from South East Asia that were made to work on
plantations/factories.Daenerys is against slavery. This is so self-evident that it
feels ridiculous to even point it out. Hope that at least the sensible parts of
the fandom gets that she is no master/slave owner.3. Exploitation of
Native Resources: Contrary to popular belief, colonisation was not done
because Europeans wanted to export democracy/their good life. Colonisation was
not done because Europeans were explorers and just found new land and ruled
there. Colonisation was done with the express intent to EXPLOIT the resources of
the Orient or the Dark Continent. They came to these nations looking
for gold/diamonds/spices/cotton/other natural resources. They slowly took
control of these nations and used up their natural resources by using local
labour. Then the finished goods were exported. The history of cotton and cotton
industries in India and how it instigated colonialism by the British and East
India Company is an example. Otherwise, take history of spices. Or the history
of diamond trade and its ties to colonisation in Africa. Don’t even get me started on the Bengal Famine and resource management.Daenerys’s intentions aren’t to exploit any of the natural
resources of Astapor/Yunkai/Mereen. She doesn’t rule Mereen to export certain
goods to Westeros – and that was never the intention. Furthermore, any
resources of Essos aren’t exploited to benefit a colonialist class of people.4. Oppression of Marginalized: The
colonies and its people were considered savages/uncultured and were always
second-class citizens. There was segregation. The colonized (natives) had to learn the language of the
oppressor. The colonized (natives) had to mould themselves to the culture of the
oppressor (by religious conversions, by changing food habits, by changing
attire, by changing language, by changing mannerisms). Furthermore, the
colonialist class always sided with the existing nobility to further oppress
the underdogs of the society. (British Raj sided with the Orthodox Brahmins
and Upper Caste in India – till the social workers, activists forced them to change
their stance on orthodox practices.)Daenerys doesn’t consider any of the Essosi as
savages/uncultured. In fact, she considers even Dothraki “her people and not savages”, unlike most of the fandom who has no
problem considering the Dothraki as savages. Daenerys learns the language of
her people (and not vice versa). Daenerys wears the attires of her people (not
vice versa). Daenerys eats the food of her people (and not vice versa). Daenerys assimilates into the culture of the people she is ruling. Daenerys
sides with the marginalized/underdogs of the society instead of the nobility –
thus behaving in a manner that is entirely opposite to colonialists.
Okay, so Daenerys doesn’t behave like a
colonialist in any way whatsoever. Still the fandom would presume that she is a coloniser,
because hey they are woke af, and would rather plaster labels instead of trying
to understand the history of oppression or nuances.What’s the big deal? What is wrong in calling her a colonialist?
The reason why I am furious when someone calls Dany a colonialist is not because somebody insulted or wrongly accused my favourite
character – but because it unwittingly presents a whitewashed pretty picture of
colonialism. By calling Dany a colonialist, the atrocities of colonialism is somehow
twisted and reduced to this:A good white person ruling over another country.
They generally try to rule fairly, but they
have some internal prejudices. They even try
to give the people freedom. However, they make mistakes and have done something ~ problematic™ ~.In actuality, colonialism is this:
An exploitative enterprise that was funded and started with
an express intent of abusing another race/region. An enterprise which took
control over vast continents for the benefit of solely the coloniser, while
exploiting the natural resources of another region/race. A system which allowed
and abetted slavery and indentured servitude; and took benefit in actively
oppressing entire nations. A system which actively denied democracy and freedom
to entire races.Colonialism was not a “whoopsie” by white people.
It was NOT
“I went to another country, tried to rule and do good, but accidentally fucked
it up”.It was a matter of deliberate policy decisions. It was thoughtful
systematic oppression.Hence, when you are calling Dany a colonialist you are essentially implying that colonisation was (mostly) done with good intentions, but accidentally caused issues for natives. When nothing could be further from the truth.
So, please stop trivialising colonialism by calling Daenerys
a colonialist.
Death By Catchphrase 