The White Man's Burden

1. I think that "the white man's burden" is the westerners job to aide the less fortunate and 'uncivilized' peoples and nations. They believed it was their responsibilty to help them in any way possible; make them more civilized and self-sifficient.

2. Kipling justifies imperialism because the westerners are actually helping the supposedly 'uncivilized' peoples, even when it doesn't seem like they are. But it's not all justified because he calls the peoples "half devil and half child," meaning that he considers them to be savages, but still human.

3. The justification seems apealing because most people are willing to accept favors and help from other people, which is exactly what the westerners are bringing. The westerners seem like heroes because they are willing to lose their lives to help the 'unclivilized' peoples.

4. Religion was used as a justification because it is something most people can all relate too. Almost all people, regarless of how much money they have, their capitalistic ideals, their moral values, or their political stature, all followed a religion or its followers. Religion is also a good debating topic because so many people have so many strong views that make it a good justification to use.