The fact is that we all live a lie.According to where we come from.
I was born in Russia during the Cold War.
And you know what,they never tought us in school that a russian by name Igor
Sikorsky invented the helicopter.And the names of Wassily Kandinsky(famous
artist)and igor Stravinsky(famous composer)never were mentioned in Russian
education system and many others because of political reasons.They left to
the West and were considered as a traitors to Communist Russia.
So what are we tought in schools is a reflection of what our govervents and
cultures believe in.
THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IS THE BIGGEST HOAX OF THEM ALL.
You know? This is potentially very true. It is true that if you read the American's view on WWII and the German's view on it, they would be very different stories, only with the same outcome. If you read both the American and Russian histories of the cold war, they would also be very different.
I've found that texts that have propaganda purposes tend to be sloppy, and their objective shines through. Whereas my textbook, at least, does not seem to hide the injustices of America or any other country, and doesn't really seem to glorify anybody.
Eventually though, you just have to put some trust in the system.
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 | 10:00 AM
That's why I was homeschooled. What's better than being brainwashed by your parents??
Accipiter
in the Northern Hemisphere, unless They have lied. Member
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 | 05:43 PM
I'm self-taught, so I read all sorts of history books printed by all sorts of nationalities and factions and whatever. Even the most "objective" books give some particular slant to history. They'll concentrate on certain things and ignore others, or give weight to only one side of an issue. I wonder if it's even possible to write a truly objective history? Everybody has their own prejudices and blind spots.
Accipiter
in the Northern Hemisphere, unless They have lied. Member
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 | 05:43 PM
I suppose you have to decide which version of history makes you happiest.
Oh please. Don't you know that history is always written by the winning side? I mean, how horrible would it be learning 20th Century history (which I did here) in Germany?
Two years of history classes, four different countries, all I remember is the russian revolution occured in 1917, the brits sat on a neighbouring beach while the aussies got slaughtered at Gallipoli, Hitler was an art student, and the Japanese stole a lot of culture from the Chinese.
And we did WWI from all four perspectives. WW2 from three (Russia was left out since that particular unit was on the revolution.)
Okay, so I'm a little bitter about my schooling...
At least governments will sometimes try to fix their past mistakes. Like Aussie kiddies are now being taught about the injustices to the Aboriginals when the Brits first landed here. When I was at school we were taught that they were a backwards people and it was the right thing to do by civilising them. And this was while I was at a small school in the Pilbara where 90% of the kids were Aboriginal! That must have really sucked to be one of them!
But it is true about history being written by the winners. That's where you have to actually use your brain and start thinking for yourself.
I agree with Nettie. The best tool for learning history is your brain. When reading any book, it's a good idea to note who wrote it, what are their qualifications and what were their motivations for writing it.
Even a book full of falsehoods tells us something about the past. There has to be a reason why the person wrote it that way (i.e. they are hiding something). Thus is doesn't matter what you were taught in school. I have found many of the things I was taught in school were wrong because I didn't stop learning when I got out.
As for WWII, there is no excuse for not knowing the true story. Many people from that era are still alive and are not censored. The fact that Leo now knows Sikorsky invented the helicopter is proof his theory is incorrect.
X Member
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 | 07:06 AM
History is the lies that historians agree apon.
Nigel
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 | 07:43 AM
My advice? Take the same information from several different sources, throw out about 90% of it, and whatever remains, accept as the truth.
An American friend of mine & myself have had a long running argument about who won the war of 1812. I don't care really, I just like driving him nuts.
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 | 09:46 AM
Nettie...I thought the Aboriginal problems were still going on into the 70s...similar to the U.S. civil rights movements in the 60s.
It's difficult to find a book that shows an objective point of view. Because even if the auther themselves is objective their research material may not have been.
Sharruma
in capable of finishing a coherent Member
Maegan, the problems are still occurring over here but the government about ten years ago decided that they should make some sort of attempt to fix the past. There was a lot of giving back traditional land and an official apology to the stolen children.
Don't think it actually changed the opinions of many Australians though. I think most people agree that they were treated roughly in the past, but the past is the past and we should look to the future. I work in a really rough area and I always have problems with the local Aboriginals. We have big groups of them hanging around fighting and drinking and sniffing paint. It got to the point where we had to stop selling spray paint altogether where I work because it got too dangerous for my staff. I find it hard to feel sympathy for these people when they act like that and try and blame it on what happened 200 odd years ago. I'm not a racist, I just believe you can only earn respect once you have respect for yourself.
I'm rambling now and am way off topic so I think I'll just shut it.
Leo 777
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 | 07:10 PM
Thanks a lot guys to all of you for participating in this discussion.
Of course the winning side writes the history,especially in the old times,when many nations couldn't even write.How could they express their point of view.
My quistion is to Captain Al.
"As for WWII, there is no excuse for not knowing the true story. Many people from that era are still alive and are not censored. The fact that Leo now knows Sikorsky invented the helicopter is proof his theory is incorrect."
Could you be more specific.Are you saying that Sikorsky didn't invent helicopter or something else.Whose theory is incorrect?
Regards.Leo777
Leo777
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 | 07:40 PM
To Sir Stephen
in Scotland
"History is the lies that historians agree apon."
Well said.I I wouldn't be able to put it better myself.
leo777
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 | 07:59 PM
To Winona,Sharruma,Charybdis.
You see how ignorant we all are according to where we were born.
When in 1812 British had conflict with Americans,in Europe the same year one of the the biggest military confrontations in History took place between Napolion's armies and Russia well described by Leo Tolstoy in his novel "War and Piece".
