M: Trying to think of a way you could describe the attitude of England to say India without sounding paternalistic or anything like that. The sentiment is along the lines of “perhaps we were shitty parents in the past, but England, in its current incarnation has a paternal fondness and hope for it’s former colonies to succeed”, only I’m trying to remove as much of the problematic language that I can, whatever would make it seem as though England were trying to take some credit or act condescending. Every modification I try and make ends up down a different problematic route. I know you won’t be able to please. Everyone, particularly people who believe that the white man is the devil, but can you take a shot at some kind of statement in that vein that would minimize the issues and simply convey how England wishes success particularly towards any country it had a hand in the history of
G: You're right to tread carefully—any expression of fondness from a former colonial power toward its former colonies can easily drift into implication of lingering authority, superiority, or self-congratulation. That said, the sentiment you're describing—one of sincere goodwill without reinscription of past hierarchies—is possible to articulate if the focus is placed on acknowledgment and hope, rather than identity or relationship framing.
Here’s a version that tries to strike that balance:
“England, fully conscious of the complicated legacies it shares with its former colonies, carries no claim over their paths forward—only a genuine hope to see them thrive, and a recognition of the bonds, however fraught, that history has forged between us.”
If you want something slightly warmer, with a tone of quiet solidarity rather than detachment:
“Though history binds us in ways that are not always proud, England today looks toward its former colonies not as dependents or pupils, but as peers—nations whose success it sincerely wishes for, with an awareness of its past role and no desire to overshadow their futures.”
Or, more succinctly:
“England acknowledges its colonial past not with pride, but with responsibility—and hopes, without presumption, for the flourishing of those nations shaped in part by that shared history.”
Each of these aims to:
If you'd like to customize further for a particular context (e.g., Commonwealth relations, cultural exchange, diplomacy), I can adapt accordingly.