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Interesting Commentary on knowledge of US History

Discussion in 'The Dungeon' started by I'm with Stupid, Jul 17, 2003.

  1. TXFZ1

    TXFZ1 Well-Known Member

    I hated history in high school it seemed to be just a memorization exercise. In college, I thought it was the bee's knees. Really enjoyed it but since I was a little older than the average student I was biasd as the others still hated it. The profs would always remind us that history books are fictional and each had to be taken with a grain of salt.

    I am amazed as to how the Declaration of Independence was so radically written, even by today’s standards. It was a death warrant for each person that signed it. It was really insulting to King George. If you have not read it, then I suggest you do.


    David
     
  2. ZebProctor1

    ZebProctor1 Well-Known Member

    "More than half thought Germany, Italy or Japan was a U.S. ally during World War II"

    Oh MY Fricking God!!!! that is the most pityful thing I have ever heard of..... I also liked the part about if you don't know your history you are more likely to believe the shit coming out of micheal moore's mouth.... I find myself in desbelief whenever I hear that man speak, or for that matter 99% of the news storyies about the iraqi war.......
     


  3. Indeed. History is taught poorly in many schools, because the teachers really don't understand the significance of what they are teaching. Thus the emphasis on places and dates, and the overemphasis on battles that result from political machinations rather than the political machinations themselves.

    If you're interested in history, may I suggest a book I found to be absolutely wonderful. Modern Times, by Paul Johnson. Covers 20th century history, and explains much about why things are the way they are today. He also debunks a number of myths, and doesn't subscribe to the revisionist, pro-socialism/anti-capitalism crap so prevalent with some modern historians. The part about FDR and Stalin is absolutely fascinating.



    If you read it cold, taken out of historical context, it does seem vicious and radical. You have to consider the environment in which it was written. George was a world-class tyrant, and seriously oppressed the Colonials. They wanted to make sure he understood completely what they were doing and why.

    I'll post a little historical context that I've always found inspiring and helpful in understanding the mindset.
     
  4. Historical Context they don't teach in school anymore

    THE WAR INEVITABLE, MARCH, 1775
    Patrick Henry before the Virginia House of Burgesses


    They tell us, Sir, that we are weak -- unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.

    Three millions of People, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, Sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of Nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, Sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable; and let it come! I repeat, Sir, let it come!

    It is in vain, Sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that Gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2003
  5. MarkB

    MarkB All's well that ends well

    Educate me guys, I took this paragraph from the news piece and am feeling a little lacking in knowledge:

    "If the words Yorktown, Bleeding Kansas, Reconstruction, Ellis Island, Marbury vs. Madison, "Remember the Maine," the Spirit of St. Louis, Midway, "I shall return," the Battle of the Bulge, the Hiss/Chambers case and "Ich bin ein Berliner" mean no more to most Americans than to the average Malaysian, what is it that makes us Americans?"

    Here are my best guesses:
    Yorktown - battleship that sank with large loss of life
    Bleeding Kansas - dont know. Is it from the Depression??
    Ellis Island - I know this one
    Marbury vs. Madison - no idea, is it the abortion case??
    "Remember the Maine" - no idea
    Spirit of St Louis - Easy, cross atlantic first flight etc
    Midway - battle of
    "I shall return" - don't know - A. Schwartzenneger maybe ;)
    Battle of the Bulge - 1st world war I think
    Hiss/Chambers - no idea
    "Ich bin..." - JFK in Germany speech (calling himself a donut, if you watched the Eddie Izzard sketch, but I digress...)

    Now, I have an excuse for my ignorance, but I'd still like to know about the ones I didnt get.
    Anyone care to help????



    :beer: :beer:
     
  6. So you say you have an excuse - don't say it's because you're a foreigner! :)

    Yorktown - decisive battle in the Revolutionary War.
    Bleeding Kansas - term that came from the slave era. Kansas was a battleground over slavery.
    Marbury v. Madison - early Supreme Court case that settled a political scuffle. Marbury was a judge appointee, Madison was at that time Secretary of State.
    Remember the Maine - battlecry for the Spanish/American War. The USS Maine blew up in the harbor at Havana, Cuba. The US blamed Spanish saboteurs.
    "I shall return." - Statement uttered by Gen MacArthur as he left the Philipines during the Japanese advance.
    Battle of the Bulge - WWII, in France. Ardennes Forest.
    Hiss/Chambers - Alger Hiss was a confidant/senior official in the Roosevelt administration, turned out to be a Soviet spy. Credited for convincing Roosevelt to give Eastern Europe to Stalin at the Yalta conference. Chambers was his accusor.

    The others you got close enough :)

    Now let's hear your excuse. ;)



     
  7. MarkB

    MarkB All's well that ends well


    ...well, I gues I dont have an excuse then......:eek:


    Thanks for that by the way. I get my fill of the History channel, and thats my source of national history. But all those you mentioned had somehow eluded me.:beer:
     
  8. Don't worry about it. I suspect you got more correct than 99% of the Americans reading this section would be able to achieve! :D
     

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