History Buffs of the World Unite!

When i was in school, collegiately and in previous years, I despised basic history courses. I couldn't stand US history, social studies, or historical finger paintings of turkeys in kindergarten. The latter I despised because I'm horrible at art, and my turkeys that year and in the next few years of primary school looked more like a Rorschach test than depicting an ornithological subject. But I digress. While I did well in these classes, it wasn't because I liked them, or had amorous feeling for any particular teacher or professor (my teachers in all grades and undergraduate were all either nuns, monks, or military officers). It was because I've always been good at memorizing and regurgitating information. History in school was never compelling as a story, unless we were dealing with ancient civilizations like Rome, Greece, or Chinese dynasties.

History is a necessary class though. We've all heard the , "Those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it", speech. I think we all knew that statement smelled funny back in the day. While it has a touch of truth to it, History's importance is not anywhere near as dramatic as that quote, but it is important for another reason. It also helps us know our heritage and the roots of our culture. It helps explain why we, as Americans, make the decisions we make today, and what precedents have been set in the past that help us rationalize some of these decisions.

I think most of you can relate in some fashion. History has been students' most despised subject in schools for years. I don't believe this is due to history itself being boring. I love reading non-fiction, especially historical accounts, and judging from what I've seen on the Books forum on our beloved site, many others enjoy reading the same. Whether it is because you enjoy the compelling real life accounts of historical figures, or you just like to discover more facts about an incident so you can impress your geek buddies, History as a subject is much more interesting than History as a class. Why is this?

I believe history textbooks are to blame. Are you aware the same history texts we used growing up, are the same texts used today? Some of the original authors of these textbooks are dead. The companies that publish these books just pay people to revise the texts to make them more up to date. The language used in these books is BOORING, and outdated. Just as it was booring when we were students. Culturally these books have no ability to relate to kids today. I found myself face down and drooling in a current textbook after reading a couple of pages of my youngest brother's book. I challenge anyone to read any these mind numbing texts today all the way through. If you did, you'd be a certified masochist.

Not only are some of these books boring, they're also either omitting facts they don't want to include, or out and out lying about what certain people really did, or how they were perceived by our country. This is because the facts omitted might alter our judgement of a cultural icon. The altered facts help support the opinions we and our children are taught.

A few examples can clearly prove the rule textbooks intentionally misrepresent the facts in order to paint a prettier picture of our American past. We're all familiar with Helen Keller. Deaf and blind chick who was wild and savage until a caring teacher taught her how to spell water, and eventually tamed this wild child's spirit with knowledge and communication. She has been the posterchild, the ideal, for all children since. Her story teaches us if she can do it, so can we. There is nothing wrong with this story. It is the truth, and it certainly is inspirational. Some facts have been omitted though. Not many people are aware Helen Keller was a raging communist. When asked why she was a communist, Keller explained she knew she only suceeded in life because she was born into priveledge. A poor child who had her disability would likely never be able to adequately communicate with anyone. Only in a socialist world would equal care be given to everyone. Keller's life lead her to a socialist view, but her life story is told as a parable extolling the virtues of capitalism. Kind of ironic....Don't ya think? (i couldn't resist)

Another example would be Woodrow Wilson. This man is lauded by textbook historians. He formed the league of nations. He unwillingly entered the first World War. He was a racist asshole. They left that last part out didn't they? Yes, Woodrow Wilson, a man many inner city public schools are named after, was openly hostile to Black Americans. This man allowed the KKK to reform in the south when it had been all but eliminated by his predecessors. He signed into law bills that made Jim Crow laws legal,a dn helped oust publically elected Black Americans from their rightfully earned offices. I haven't even gotten into the good stuff yet. We were told Wilson was a peace loving, isolationist man. Not entirely true. Under his administration we attacked Mexico 12 different times is two years, not to mention other illegal wars he fought against Latin American countries. In his defense, he was not the first, or the last, to use "gunboat" diplomacy against our southern neighbors. The real kicker in all of this though, is the fact the American people hated Wilson with a passion while he was in office. We were taught this man was universally loved. Not so. It wasn't until after the second world war when Wilson was viewed favorably. Just to let you know how hated Wilson was, his democratic successor, was crushed by Warren G. Harding, who never even campaigned, by 64%, a landslide victory. History books suggest the people just wanted a return to normalcy. How is that statement supported by any facts? Isn't it just as likely the American people knew what they were doing?

One last lie before I wrap things up. Do you remember Betsy Ross? I do. She never had anything to do with our history. She never made the first flag, and it is doubtful she even knew Washington. She was a marketing ploy by her descendants who wanted to make a tourist attraction in Philadelphia in 1876. Feel kinda robbed, don't you?

Why am I even discussing this subject? Am I some pinko commie who thinks all American history is revisionist bull, and some conspiracy by our government to propagandize us and our children? No. I like my history to be true. I like to know facts, and make decisions on my own with all the information available. I'd like to think my children and your children would be allowed to do the same. Why? Because I like history, even if I hated the subject in school. Maybe others would be drawn to it more if the people depicted in our schools weren't idealised icons for us to blindly worship, but were real people, with real problems and flaws with which we could either relate, or help us want to understand them more.