Posted by
Gray Ghost on Wednesday, December 09, 2009 4:17:22 PM
When I was a boy, about 6 or 7 years old, my father did a wonderful thing. He "turned me on" to the study of history. At first I studied World War 2. My father had served in this war as a fighter pilot. I met many of his old friends who were also fighter pilots. Naturally, as a young boy, their stories and their camaraderie mystified me. It all seemed to be "dream-like", something that happened long ago.
As I got older, I branched out in my studies. My family and I visited Shiloh when I was about 9. I was amazed at this national park. The numbers of dead soldiers, both North and South, were almost inconceivable. And because the Civil War Centennial was just starting up (with men dressing in the colorful uniforms of that period), I decided to start my study of the Civil War in conjunction with my study of World War 2.
At age 13, I added World War 1 after seeing "Sergeant York" at junior high school. At age 15 I saw "Northwest Passage" on TV; this caused me to include the French and Indian War. During the summer between my junior and senior years in high school, I saw "Drums Along the Mohawk" on TV. Naturally I added the Revolutionary War.
By the time I was at Mississippi State University (and in Air Force ROTC), all my spare time was spent either dating my future wife (who was at MSCW), hunting at Noxubee Refuge, fishing at Oktibbeha Lake, or reading books on history. In 1973, the US Air Force enacted a RIF (Reduction in Force). I decided to get out and pursue the profession I had been training for at MSU (i.e., electrical engineering).
For the next 35 years, I read and studied history as a hobby. I have learned much in my studies. I learned, for example, that we are blessed in this country with literally thousands of men and women worthy of emulation.
I learned that history is fixed. In and of itself, it cannot be changed. Our interpretation of it might change, but the actual events themselves cannot change. Sometimes, newly discovered, first-hand accounts of historical events can cause our knowledge of these events to increase. But all in all, HISTORY DOES NOT CHANGE. That means that we in the US share a common bond, i.e. our history. That common bond brings us together as a people. It means a citizen from California and a citizen from Mississippi can always find a "kinship" to each other. Their accents might differ. Their taste in food and music might differ. But we are all part of this great experience started in 1776.
I also learned that the study of history can give some one a unique insight into the future. In so much as the following quote is from a man who although I do not like or respect his lifestyle, I totally believe was correct in this statement of fact:
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
George Santayana
Truer words were never spoken. But they are true only in one sense. If you do the same things, over and over, not only will you repeat history but also you are an idiot. If, on the other hand, you learned from your first experience and tried something new, then at least you have a chance of changing the consequences of your actions.
Also the study of US History can be a powerful training tool for the youth of this country. As I mentioned, there are literally thousands of men and women in our history who are worthy of emulation. They were from all walks of life and all races. These include such diverse people as: Charles Proteus Steinmetz (engineering), George W. Carver (botany), John F. Reynolds (US military), Jonas E. Salk (medicine), and Booker T. Washington (education). Today’s young person can do a lot worse than pattern their lives after the people I just mentioned.
Examples are important. Without them our children are lacking a "reference" point.
US History is fixed. Unless new evidence is found, it cannot be changed. My wife is a public school teacher. She has taught for 28 years. In the last few years I have noticed subtle changes occurring in the high school level history textbooks. For example, these books now state that slavery was the only cause of the Civil War. That is like saying that grape jelly is the only "condiment" that can be used to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. There are no discussions that it was the primary cause along with the rise of "regionalism" and the political factor of "states’ rights". There are no discussions of economic causes. There are no discussions of the political chaos brought about by a battle between the differing factions in the US Congress. No, the only cause of the Civil War is now said to be slavery.
Is this being written to: to increase the tension between whites and blacks in this country, to alleviate the guilt felt by the writers of these textbooks, or perhaps to change the regional perceptions felt by all parts of our nation? Whatever the reason for this change in recent textbooks (and other changes I did not mention), they do have one great effect: they will dissolve the bonds that join us together. A black New Yorker will now tend to be more than ever distrustful of a white Tennessean. A Hispanic from Los Angeles will now tend to be more than ever distrustful of an Asian from Baltimore.
By "changing" history, "distrust" is being entered into the US equation.
The knowledge of history can translate into knowledge of the future. If we know that "x" plus "y" does NOT equal "z" (from past experience), then we know in the future not to try that again. However, if the history textbooks have been changed, then perhaps we will not know to try that again.
US History is filled with failures that do not need to be repeated: the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, recreational drug use (both in the late 1800’s and the late 1900’s), and others.
So perhaps the answer to my question ("U.S. History and Why Do We Study It") is twofold. First, it is part of the "bond" that we as citizens of the US share, part of the "glue" that keeps us together. Second, the knowledge of this history will perhaps keep us from making the same mistakes over and over again.