I deliberately picked that example, where they thought they were doing net good, but in fact they were not on further consideration. Some descendants think stil

I deliberately picked that example, where they thought they were doing net good, but in fact they were not on further consideration. Some descendants think still that the Empire did net good, but they are ignorant of many of the details. The example I gave shows starkly their attitude towards those they subjugated, and if you go to the wiki linked, you will see it was a popular viewpoint. It's an effective example exposing the views popularly maintained by those holding power in the Empire. How can people holding these views do more good than harm, overall? A famine on the doorstep of a superpower is not forgiveable, no amount of scientific progress or engineering prowess can forgive it. Many of the things they credit themselves with improving they initially instigated and promoted, e.g. opium trade, slave trade, penal colonies, regional wars arising out of 'divide and conquer' tactics. They were not a civilising force.