An Interesting Point to Ponder.

You know, I’ve got to admit, there’s times when second guessing a writer, or a TV shows producers, can be fun.

It’s a bit like flirting, out of sight of a partner: fun when it happens, but not something to do on regular basis.

But definitely fun.

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Says I, in the hope that Allison doesn’t read that, she’ll get the wrong impression!

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At any rate, I do know that one service Blogger provides is the ability to follow other blogs on the service that grab your attention.

One of the ones I follow which is Life, Dr Who & Combom.

And — bless ’im — Combom does get the odd bit of hot Dr Who and Torchwood shaped scoops.

On a regular basis!

Bless!!

Bless ’im!

One thing that caught his eye, this morning, was something that also caught mine.

News the the British Government — through Prime Minister Gordon Brown — issued an apology to those who had, as children, been — effectively — deported to various colonies.

NOT one of the old Empire’s brighter moments.

Maybe not up there with slavery, but certainly not good!

But what Combom was wondering was whether this rather nasty little incident — incidents, maybe’s the word, I understand it covered a long period — provided some of the inspiration for Torchwood: Children of Earth.

I don’t know: it sounds plausible, though, doesn’t it?

Mind you, saying that, it wasn’t the first piece of British imperial history I thought of, on watching the series.

Remember, in Day 5, Colonel Oduya of UNIT, asks the 456 representative, why they are stealing ten percent of Earth’s children: and is informed that the 456 are drug addicts, whose drug of choice …

Are children.

Human children.

The idea, now, is as revolting to me as it was on watching the show, then.

But not as revolting as what those who ruled the Empire did to its own, either to those forced to emigrate to the colonies in as part of the Child Migration Programme.

Or to those we sold opium to.

The Empire — through the East India Company — were dealers.

Which, when Oduya learns 456 why the 456 are stealing human children — and told by the 456 they are shooting up on them — I was revolted …

And thinking of the Opium Wars, and the reasons for them.

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After all, Torchwood: Children of Earth, makes it perfectly clear what’s happening, and that the British Government approved.

Indeed, actively cooperated.

You know, now I come to think of it, I’m thinking Combom has a point.

The same applies to both the Child Migration Programme, to Torchwood: Children of Earth, and to the British East India Company’s sale of opium to China.

You know, this could be an interesting area to debate.

Feel free to comment … !