Learn from History, Don't Alter It
I found it interesting that the Tea Party activists were trying to edit certain traits of the Founding Fathers out of history. People who have much to lose frequently edit the truth to agree with their readers’ views. This time the case is simply that the interested party is directly trying to change the laws which guide the editing of the textbooks. It’s infuriating that people still try to change the past to suit their wants and desires. Also, the excuse provided was that they were doing this to prevent the spread of false criticisms of the Founding Fathers. There is evidence that the Founding Fathers have owned slaves or otherwise done activities which we find appalling today. Some of the actions of the founding fathers were perfectly acceptable during their era, however. I don’t agree with slavery, but to write it out of history is detrimental to the growth of the nation. Just because we ignore something doesn’t make it disappear. Wendi Thomas’ relation of the issue to object permanence in her article, “Wendi C. Thomas: Revision won't change history,” perfectly explains the view of those who want our leaders to be perfect. People can only grow through learning from their mistakes or the mistakes of others. If every man in charge of this country was faultless, then I wouldn’t trust any of them to know what was right. Great men are made of more than just their success. You don’t need to be a college student to know that even the mistakes you learn from can lead you somewhere great in life.
I really don't understand what we hope to accomplish by trying to change our history. Regardless of whether or not we talk about it, these things still happened. We can learn more from our past if we put it in context and recognize where and why our heroes went wrong. I think it's bizarre that anyone would have trouble accepting that the Founding Fathers owned slaves. Is it really so difficult for us to believe that otherwise decent people could do absolutely atrocious things when it fit society's standards? Especially in children's textbooks, we could be using it to teach an important lesson about how what seems universally accepted is not always right, and how we have to learn to develop and stand up for our own values.
ReplyDeleteDon't we all know by now that when you sugarcoat reality, the truth just becomes harsher when it comes out?
I thought that was really ignorant and the excuse they gave was just as ignorant. They should just face the facts that the founding fathers owned slaves. it is, what it is, there is no sugar coating around that, and to try and erase the fact that they did is basically trying to erase apart of history so if that move is made it further lets us know that our country is ran by idiots.
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