Colonial Grievances

India demands the return of one of the British crown jewels. Under, some believe, questionable circumstances, the 105.6-carat diamond emerged in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Indian Cultural Minister is exerting "all possible efforts" to see the return of the sparkler, short of war, I presume.

Also in someone's cross-hairs are Britain's so-called "Elgin marbles," pieces of the Parthenon in Athens shipped to England during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, again under disputed circumstances. The Greek government demands their return.

Just to make it a threesome, Canada should join the line. We should demand the return of  all those beaver pelts taken from our forests to make hats for the British aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries. Do we also want the return of all that wood taken to provide masts for the British navy?

While we exported these goods to Britain, in return, they sent us immigrants. We got the better deal by far. So no, we won't lodge a complaint.