englishman,
i have to strongly disagree with y couple of things you said.
a) britain did not give up the colonies voluntarily but because they were forced out!
b) britain left many states in chaos. they also set up borders i a way that would cause future wars. (DIVIDE ET IMPERA)
c) ask the people of india how they view the british rulership. you won't find many that bless the british for what they did.
d) countries simply had to keep their ties with britain since 100% of their exports went to britain!
so all in all to say british colonialism was OK is just WEIRD!
you dust off the countless human rights violations commited in the name of the british empire as if they were nothing.
one cannot have such a history and bless churchill while at the same time critisize hitler for trying to occupy poland or hussein for trying to occupy kuwait.