Bearskull21 说:
Is it right to call the American patriots traitors? If a government is tyrannical enough, or harsh enough, does it give a people the right to rebel against that government? And does success in that rebellion, erase the nature of their insurrection? Whoever makes the best point, gets an Indian chief named after them in 1776...
For the first question, I believe everyone's opinion is affected by who they are. I, as an American, do not feel that the American Revolution was a act done by traitors. As noted, some people who are from Britain feel that it was a traitorous act, which leads to my conclusion that you cannot put a right or wrong title on the movement.
The second question is one that is easier to answer from my point of view. I believe that most people would agree that a government that is tyrannical or harsh towards its citizens gives the people the right to rebel. The fact that people will have differing opinions on is whether or not the British government was not treating the American colonists with the same respect as native born British citizens. Some people in this thread have touched upon this topic, but one of the famous sayings from the revolution was "No Taxation without Representation" which meant that the British government was enacting taxes for the colonists when the colonists had no say for themselves on whether they wanted it or not. The taxes were for the most part not being paid by British citizens in Britain, but only by the colonists. The colonists did not have their own representatives in Parliament, so the taxes were being set by British lawmakers without any debate or talks with any colonial leaders. Also, the colonies were controlled by British governors chosen by the King or Parliament, meaning that the colonists did not have much control of things. Quartering of soldiers was another topic that raised anger with the colonists. Soldiers were allowed to quarter inside of colonial houses without paying the owner, and the owner of the house was required to feed the soldiers. This was an issue that angered many colonists, and is something they had petitioned King George and Parliament to stop.
For the last question, I do not believe that success in the rebellion erases the nature of the insurrection. I am sure many people viewed the United States with hate after it gained its independence, as I am sure many people may still view the US as a country of traitors. I for one know that the US has committed many a atrocity, so it is not a perfect country. The causes for the revolution in my mind justify the need and I do not feel that they were wrong for wanting their own freedom. One of the reasons for the war ending was that many people from Britain were sympathetic towards the colonist's cause, and after awhile many people were tired of Britain fighting the war. I think many of them did not slight the colonists for their actions, although it was in British law treason of the highest degree.
As countries of the modern age, I would feel that we should respect one another and not have hatred because of our past. I have been on Ventrilo with friends from Britain, and then had one of their friends come on and talk down upon me for being an American. But I have also had friends from the US who have dogged my British friends for "losing" the American Revolution. I for one do not feel that the US beat Britain, but simply won Independence from them. Britain may have lost the territory, but as I have said many were sympathetic towards the Americans and wanted the war to end. I think such meaningless bitterness towards one another is pointless, as we should not be dwelling on such a thing.
This is my own personal opinion of course, and I am sorry if some of my facts turn out to be wrong. I do not mind being corrected if someone finds a flaw in my opinion.