Yes. You are making a lot of sense @bridgetoby and @humanearl.
There were some acts perpetrated by Belgium in the Congo in the name of “Western Christian Civilisation.” “Each village was ordered by the authorities to collect and bring in a certain amount of rubber – as much as the men could bring in by neglecting all work for their own maintenance.

If they failed to bring the required amount, their women were taken away and kept as hostages...in the harems of colonial government employees. If this method failed...troops were sent to the village to spread terror, if necessary by killing some of the men...they were ordered to bring one right hand amputated from an African victim for every cartridge used. Can you imagine this. But see us today, what they thought we could not be or achieve, we are at the fore front of development in those countries.