I am not sure if I am viewing this correctly, but this is my analysis of our whole discussion.
I believe that all the fighting over history (of whose views get to be publishes) is all over power, the power to control the people. The person’s whose point is getting across, is going to be the person who have access to more power and control over its citizens. For example, in 1984, one of the techniques the Party used to control its people is the alteration of history. They changed history to brainwashing the people into believing that the Party had always been there throughout history. Oceania had always been to war with Eurasia then later on, Eastasia. Altering history has allowed the Party to obtained power over its citizens. The government wanted the authority; therefore by demonstrating that the Party was always good, makes the people support and follow the government.
For instance, in the article, Texas Conservatives Win Curriculum Change, quotes that “Cynthia Dunbar… thinks the nation was founded on Christian belief, managed to cut Thomas Jefferson…, replacing him with St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, William Blackstone,” just because Thomas “Jefferson is not well liked among conservatives on the board because he coined the term “separation between church and state.” This reveals the political war between the Republicans and Democrats of how the history textbook should be like to increase more support on either side. Just because of the party wanting gain control, they could erase the historical character from history just like that. For example, if the history books were to say that the Republicans were the best, I believe that many people would follow that writing and support the Republicans. This would allow power to the parties. History can take control of the people’s mind. Parties can gain control of the people’s votes and rise into power in cities, states, or even in U.S. The party wants to be in dominance over its people. I think that any parties would change history so the citizens would side with them.
For addition, in The Danger of a Single Story, Adichie stated that “There is a word, an Igbo word that I think about whenever I think about the power structures of the world and it is ‘nkali.’ It’s a noun that loosely translates to ‘to be greater than another.’” Every single race or person wants to look and sound better than others; therefore, in history, they write about other people being and doing "this and that", and attack others' physical and mental characteristics. Other people can read this and assume that they are like this. This leads other to have a negative feeling toward the others. People spread rumors and gossips around making each other look horrible. They want to be superior over the others. They criticize others to make themselves feel as a better person or race.
History is always view from a bias point. Everyone always have their own opinion(s) about the past or current events. Nobody is wrong or right because s/he is only telling from what s/he had experience. They are telling others their point of view, so it is whether you believe it or not. No matter where you go, there would always be opinions. You would never know the truth until you meet the other or experience it, and form your own opinion. (Sorry if my analysis does not make any sense.)
I agree with your statement about opinions always being there. It is inevitable in history to have more than one view of it. However, history books today have too much opinion. I agree with this article that the books tend to lean more towards the left in their views on the past. That does not mean, however, that we should over react and go overboard on puting right wing views in them. You make a great point about the want of power. Politicians always want citizens to see their way of thinking so that they will vote for them. Having their beliefs in the books will sway some people to side with them. The want for power rules so many aspects of life that people forget how to be normal. This need for power is growing more and more as the 21st century passes by. It will soon become a problem that is out of our hands. You made some excellent points and I feel your opinion matches many of the other stundent's in this class. good job :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone wrote a lot; just kidding. Also agreeing with you, Madalyn, and many other people, I believe that there is always going to be some bias in any kind of writing that there is, if it's a poetry or a narrative. Choua, I liked how the points that you made were all related to history, our Socratic Circle, and even the video of The Danger of a Single Story. Nice Job! It was also good that you used quotes from all of those sources, even though I didn't really read those quotes, but it's good that you are using quotes when you write things. It shows that you know how to gather quotes and use it. By reading your writing, I can try to understand how to use quotes better, well, at least try to use quotes. Hopefully I get a better understanding of using quotes. I can see where you are trying to go with the idea that people are fighting over history to try and obtain power, but I think that people are trying to change history because they want their people to be noticed in history. They don't want to be nobody, and they don't also want the "white" people to be the ones that are the "heroes" of the nation. I think that other people who succeeded in some of things they did also want to be recognized as helping the nation. However, I can understand that power might be the reason why people want to change the history because people want to be known as the ones who saved the nation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone here, of course. I really like your point about the power to gain control, because I never thought about it like that. It is true that opinions will always be present, but they do not have to be. Adding on to the point about changing and altering history, there is no need for that at all, yet it still happens. People want to view history as they see it, and how they would like it or would like their people to believe it and see it. This is not an efficient use of history, and complete kills the point and defeats the purpose. I really enjoyed your paragraph about the fact that people can be swayed according to what they are being fed through the media, and they will easily believe what they are told is right. This is true, but as I have said before, it shouldn't be. I also believe that people should have their own opinions and beliefs, not just what they have been told or what they read in a textbook that is full of subliminal biases and opinions.
ReplyDeletePS Christopher wrote more than Madalyn did :P