"A Small Place" Response

*Do Kincaid’s descriptions of imperialistic experiences represent all other imperialistic experiences of other countries?

Does Kincaid give a fair description of the relationship between tourist and native?

Why does Kincaid specifically point out the contrast between the brand new cars and the houses?

Kincaid begins this article describing the possible experience of a tourist in Antigua.  Then she describes the relationship between tourist and native.  She then goes on to describe why it is that the relationship is so strained.  Lo’ and behold, the reason is because of the British rule over Antigua.  Kincaid practically rants on about the negativity of being conquered and the Antiguan culture being molded how the British wanted it to be.  There seems to be no positive comment about these imperialistic experiences.

            However, I would like to bring up something different.  Though Kincaid’s description of imperialism on “uncivilized” countries seems like what is expected of a native of a conquered nation, are these experiences the same for other countries.  I myself am 100% Vietnamese.  My parents fled to the U.S. during the Vietnam War to escape the Viet Cong.  They have told many stories of their ancestors and what they experienced under the Chinese and the French.  Though most of the stories seem to mirror Kincaid’s, what my ancestors actually appreciate was the formation of our Vietnamese language.  Before being ruled over, we already had a spoken language but no written language.  The Chinese formed our accents and the French gave us a written language.  Kincaid seems to not give any positive remarks about the British, but I’m pretty sure there is some type of benefit—be it big or small—that the British have given Antiguans.  However, all in all I must agree with the experiences Kincaid has described of being conquered since your life and culture is in the hands of the imperialist powers.  Now, I am just comparing the experiences of Antigua to that of Vietnam.  It may be different for other countries but I can relate to those of Vietnam more since my ancestors have experienced it for themselves.  There was most likely more bad than good experiences, but nevertheless, those experiences have formed what the countries are today.