Monday, March 2, 2015

History Makes You Uncomfortable? Too Bad, Those are the Best Bits.

I try to stay away from politics in my blog. But I have to have this rant. In Oklahoma, they are planning to do away with AP history classes. For all the reasons stated, the one that gets me riled is; because some parts of history are too "uncomfortable."

For me, those are the best part history.

History should not just be about the best part of history. It should not be about the victories and the glorifying the good parts. And what do you consider uncomfortable?
Is uncomfortable, learning about the bloodiest battle in the Revolutionary War*? Or one of the worst man made disasters in the US, prior to 9/11?  Or a race riot so horrible, that there was an attempt to delete the history of it**?

Am I the weird one? Because I find the gore and disasters and horrible events the best parts of history. NO. Author Terry Deary made his career by telling kids about history using the awful bits. Horrible Histories would have be devoured by me if I had been lucky enough to have them when I was a kid. Yes, they are told with humor, but why is that wrong? History shouldn't be dry. It was interesting when it was happening, so it should be interesting for us.

Also has many articles about history that talk about the stupid, the strange, the unbelieveable, the badassardy of people in the past. Seriously, I think they made Simo Hayha's name known outside of Finland (HERE). Unless you were a WWII buff, you might have never heard of him.

I guess I got sidetracked... All of history is uncomfortable. But that doesn't you shouldn't learn about it. It what makes history so interesting.  Those strange, gory, or just plain weird facts about the people and places in history are far more memorable than just the dates.

And to end this, a video from Horrible Histories, at least until the BBC blocks it in America.

* I have and will be volunteering at Fort Stanwix National Monument. The Battle of Oriskany is tied to the fort's history. I recommend stopping by the fort and seeing the battlefield which is a few minutes away by car.
**Also happened in Oklahoma, so this is not the first time they have tried to alter the history.

by Mari Miniatt

1 comment:

  1. History is political, just as facts are political. We cannot abdicate our responsibility as educated people.