Lies My Teacher Told Me Ch 4

 Textbook authors seem to make assumptions of the first Americans. They view them as savages and primitives, so as to glorify the settlers who are said to have brought civilization to America.

 In my Anthropology class, we watched a video on field work and how so called 'civilized' white people went to research tribes that were not aware of tools, such as matches, and made their fire with sticks. The explorer commented that these people were primates because they did not use tools that was used in wherever they had come from. But, the tribes were able to create a fire despite the lack of tools, and seeing as though it works for them, I do not see the point of calling them ignorant.  Calling them primates was insulting enough, but the explorer commented that the tribe he was researching were a group of 'savages.' Yes, the tribe did seem to catch random animals and feast on the meat with their hands, and it is certainly not something I would want to see either. But what they are doing is basically the same thing. The only difference is whether it has been processed by other hands or not. If you really think about it, we  are ignorant of how to process meat so we can eat it, and most people do not know how to create a fire without a match.

 What I wrote above was a little off topic, but I think it applies to the textbook authors. They seem to think themselves superior to the Native Americans or are trying to make it look as though they are better. As Loewen says, textbooks are gradually changing their perceptions now, but it still does not change the fact that to some extent, they feel that they are superior to the Natives. As was said in the earlier chapters, every nation needs a national hero or feel good story so that they can reassure the citizens of that country that they have decent ancestors, and should be proud of it. Textbook authors may be the most patriotic people in a nation, which would explain the lack of unsettling facts from the past that may disrupt one's sense of nationalism.

 It is easy to criticize textbook authors because they seem to be keeping a lot of inconvenient truths behind the curtains. But illustrating white people as bad for having invaded the Native American society is not as simple as it seems, as Loewen has stated. There is a complex line  between good and bad, and it is hard to define them in just those two categories. What I am trying to say is that, we should not believe everything we are told, but there is no necessity to criticize every piece of information we are taught. I am no expert when it comes to history, however I'm sure that even the best of historians cannot say for sure whether one nation or tribe or society was good or bad. We need to learn to accept that there is no definite good and evil, moreover we need to stop trying to categorize facts.

Lies My Teacher Told Me Ch 3

 Never Having lived in America, I do not know very much about Thanksgiving. To me, it is a day where close ones get together to share a meal and give thanks to whatever they are thankful for. Those who are returnees from America, or have studied American History would think I was a fool, but the only source of information for me before this book was episodes of the sitcom Friends. 

 As I have said, not knowing much about Thanksgiving and why it is celebrated, it is not shocking to read the text. I get the impression that these so-called settlers are more like invaders. They came for their gain alone, and recreated a society that was working fine without them. They disrupted lives of the American Indians in Massachusetts, rather than helping them as most text books seem to say, according to the author. The Pilgrims may not have intended to cause mayhem, and students should understand that. However, it is too much of a risk to believe every feel good story we come across in text books.

 

America, as the author mentions, does not have a very long history(critically speaking of after the pilgrims 'settled'), yet there are so many facts hidden or slightly changed. It makes me question how much of the history I DID learn is true.

ELA classes

We're coming to an end of the second week of ELA classes. Being surrounded by such intelligent people, I'm thinking that my knowledge and values are going to change a lot. As scary as it is to think that all these smart people might be reading my immature blog posts with very little vocabulary, I can develop my own thoughts by reading their posts. I really feel insecure about sharing my work online as I am not used to having people read what I have written, but I'm sure it'll be good practice.

Okay, that is  a seriously short blog post, but for now, bye bye!

Lies My Teacher Told Me Ch 2

Lies My Teacher Told me Chapter 2

In my understanding, Christopher Columbus was the poor old man who never got the praise he deserved during his lifetime. I always felt sorry for him, seeing as though he had died without realizing that his discovery was on that changed society. However, I realized how naive I was for having believed that he was the only one brave or smart enough to have discovered America.

 Even before I read this book, I felt it was strange that textbooks stated that Columbus had ‘discovered’ America. There were Native people already inhabiting the area. After reading the second chapter, I came to my senses and realized that the reason why Columbus was praised was because he was white. As odd as it is, when studying history, I rarely came across coloured skin people portrayed as a hero, or praised for something they accomplished. Frankly, I feel ashamed for not having questioned Columbus from an earlier stage. I was gullible enough to believe that he was the only one who made it to the shore of the States. Why do textbooks tend only to pick up white people as their heroes? Don’t students have a right to know the truth, even if it means the loss of a hero?

 Past events are not something students are able to ascertain by themselves. They have no choice but to take in what they are taught. They say that by teaching history, the future generation will be able to avoid the same mistakes. Yet, if we are not taught the truth, perhaps there isn’t much point in teaching the subject, as it may not change. History is said to repeat itself.. That may be because of the lack of truth students are exposed to.

Lies My Teacher Told Me Ch 1

Lies My Teacher Told Me Chapter 1

History structures the world today. It seems like a true statement, but this book made me realize it is the other way around. The world today structures history to its convenience. For example, had the United Nations lost the Second World War, history text books would not have shown the glory of them, but would have been written to convince us how they were wrong.

 All these years, through Junior High School and High School, we were taught that Wilson suggested making the League of Nations, later leaving the league due to the disagreement of the U.S government. However, after reading about Wilson and his foreign interventions and what not, it made me wonder whether he backed out of the league because of the country’s government, or just used that as an excuse to leave. I now think that Wilson only suggested the league to seem as though he cared, to be portrayed as a hero. As Loewen says, hero figures are a necessity in history. They help convince their country’s citizens that their society is one to be proud of.

 This brings me to my next point. History textbooks avoid anti-nationalists, or rebellious people so as to keep a faithful understanding of the citizens today and their country’s background. As shameful as it is, I did not know about Helen Keller’s life after she became able to pronounce the “wa” of water. I had no clue what she had gone on to pursue in her adulthood. The fact that I only knew of her childhood testifies how historians and teachers try to cover up inconvenient truths.

 Although I am not too much of a fan of history, I feel that every student should read this book in order to realize that history is made up of past events, but made up so as to fit the modern society.

Techno stuff :)

I use a mac desktop at home, but there are so many things I didn't know. The Safari Extensions can come in handy for presentations in classes other than the ARW. I really like freedocumentaries.org because when I've been given an essay with a free topic, it would help me narrow down my subjects when I have no clue of what to write about. 

There is sooooooo much technology I wasn't aware of. I sound like a dork, but I can't wait to start using these tools!