While none should agree with this backwards way of thinking that was common for that period, I still love Kipling's poetry and thoughtful observations. He changed quite a bit after his son was killed in WWI. He never got over it and blamed himself for his son's death.

He never got the impression he was a hater like the KKK, just misguided in his belief that imperialism actually helped anyone and did not dehumanize those who were under its subjugation. I do not give his thinking a break either.

Needless to say, I am against all forms of caste, royalty, class structure, racism, etc. I believe we would be much better off today if this sort of thinking was never present. Sadly, all humans have had some form of it over the centuries. Nice article.