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.