I have talked about one of my favorite history authors before, James W. Lowen. I first discovered his book,Lies My Teacher Told Me. I told you a little about Lies Across America, which talks about historic sites across America in a previous post about our summer daycations.
Why should we learn about our past? We have all heard George Santayana's famous quote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." But he also said something more complicated, "History is always written wrong, and so always needs to be rewritten."
When I was in college I wrote a paper about history really just being a myth. A history from one point of view is not a complete history. James Lowen tells about a war museum, full of memorabilia, but that chooses to ignore telling the stories behind the war, why we were at war in the first place, or promoting discussion about tactics used by either side and them being ethical or not.
Compare this to the visitor's center at MT. St. Helens, which clearly shows what, why, how and what if it happens again. Think about these two types of museums and ones that you have been to… Which one do you think we learn more from? Which one helps us learn from our mistakes and avoid them in the future? Which one calms fears?
The bottom line is, "War is hell and the United States conducts it, just like any other nation, we too become the devil" (pg. 180) John F. Kennedy said, "The great enemy of truth is not often the lie… but the myth"
Hiding from our past doesn't make it go away. Just like a child who hides from a parent knowing he is in big trouble, punishment eventually comes. "How can we expect our children to develop their own convictions when we ignore those of historical figures?" – Helen Keller
When I was in school, "history" was names and dates. But as an adult I find that history is something we are continually discovering and is best taught as a discussion. As I share history with my child I find myself sorting through myths and legends and hokey stories glorifying historic leaders, searching the truth.
One of the first historical lies we tell our children is about Thanksgiving. Throughout the world people have historically celebrated abundant harvests and I think the idea of celebrating our abundance with family and friends is one of the last holidays that has been relatively untouched by commercialism.
However, I was determined to avoid passing on "the myth of peaceful settlers, inviting some wild Indians over for dinner." 1621 A New Look at Thanksgiving is a children's book that tells the complicated history English settlers and their impact on the Native people that were already here. As the book says, "There was neither cranberry sauce nor pumpkin pie at the 1621 harvest celebration. There were no Indians with woven blankets down their backs. There were no Pilgrims in somber black clothes and tall hats with silver buckles, either. The English didn't even call themselves pilgrims at the time. That's the myth."
The book continues on to tell about the days leading up to that "First Thanksgiving…. The settlers were preparing to have a celebration to give thanks… Four men went out hunting and in doing so began shooting their guns and marching in unison. It was likely that Native people heard the noise, maybe thinking they were preparing for war. A few investigated and called for Massosoit, who then sent a few men out to hunt for deer to contribute to the feast." Years later, painters memorialize this event, romanticizing the facts and hundreds of years later we dress our school children up in tall Pilgrim hats, drab clothes and big buckles made out of construction paper!
Mayflower 1621 A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage reminds us that, "the Mayflower colonists were not the first Europeans in the Wampanoag territory. Early explores brought trade… they also brought diseases, including plague… killing so many that by the time the Mayflower arrived in Plymouth no Wampanoag were left there. To the colonists, finding tilled fields was a sign of God's favor. They gave little thought to those whose land they were taking over.
Both of these books were a great way to promote discussion about the history of European settlers in America. Check them out! You may also want to check out … The Truth About Columbus and American Exceptionalism
I am thankful to live in a country that lets me freely celebrate and worship how I wish. What are you thankful for?
3 comments:
OKay, I gotta have Rick come and read this. I think it may be the first time you two will agree! lol j/k
Rick always says, "We only have the history of the winners" which is so true. History books are written by those who won, not by the loosing side--the loosers are thrown into jail, or die, or become slaves or live in poverty, so we never hear their side of why the war happened etc.
There is so much propoganda in this world and it just floors me that people so readily beleive everything they are told. Thanks for this great post. I'm gonna get those books!
Yes, most of the names that we gave to Native Americans mean things like "eaters of the flesh", "theives" and things like that. They were the names their enemies called them. Over the years they just accepted them, but many are now fighting against the names.
And I really get fed up with stories about American legends like Betsy Ross, etc. Why do we continue to tell these myths?
And why do we stop covering U.S. history sometimes in the 70's? Because no one wants to get into the politics... wouldn't it be better if American History was taught as a discussion, that led up to present day.. And finally into a class about the responsiblity we all have to get involved in our communities, make changes and actually vote!
Comments from Brian-
History is two things: 1) attempting to uncover facts; and, 2) attaching meaning and significance to those "facts".
You need to read Zimm's A People's History of the United States.
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