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[orangerful]

Facing Facts: American Identity is Based on Alternative History

This is a short and sweet blog post but I have to say it really gets to the core of where so many of our (meaning American) identity issues arise. We are taught that history was made by benevolent straight, white men and everything was done out of goodness and if it wasn't (like slavery) well it was punished and now everyone gets along. After a law was passed, everyone followed it and no one was ever treated poorly again.

(This is also a test to see if LJ cross-posting works)

Comments

[brunettepet]

The whitewashed version of America's history we were all taught in school colors the way we look at ourselves and the world every day.

[colls]

That post reminds me of the "Lies my teacher told me..." books.

[alix]

Thanks for linking that. I regret, now, how most of the history books I read growing up fell into this trap. I wish they'd been more truthful.

[yourlibrarian]

Given how much of a battle any historical facts are it surprises me history textbooks ever get published. Not that other fields can't have their controversies but this area is a major flashpoint.

[orangerful]

So true. Heck, we were watching Buffy last night - Pangs - and there were all the exact same debates.

I think the biggest flaw is the sanitation of history. I mean, all of history has been full of blood and battles and people just don't want to see that. Well, adults. I feel like if we taught it with all the violence and debate that surround it, it would be FAR more engaging to students!

[yourlibrarian]

Probably, yes! Fighting bears tends to be very visually captivating ;)

On a side note, I'm still going through my notes from Whedoncon and am working today on the ones from the stunts panel. They had behind the scenes footage of Buffy's fight with the bear. It was so adorable, and rather funny to see the trainer calling out to it "No bouncing! No bouncing!"

[orangerful]

GAH I want to go to WhedonCon! Sounds like so much fun...but getting to LA and paying for lodgings would probably break the bank. :\

I want to see that footage though LOL

[yourlibrarian]

Yes it's the travel that's so costly because the actual admission was pretty affordable. I got one leg of my flight free through points but I was looking at the costs of another con and, even without airfare and a fairly reasonable hotel, I'd be looking at some $600 for the weekend.

In my case I have other reasons to go to LA every year (and the con rate for the hotel was well below what I've run into for hotels there). So adding that on wasn't a hard choice.

However Jeff Pruitt does have a YouTube channel and while it doesn't seem any of the S4 footage is there segments like this can still give you an idea of what was shown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYBLXUhJB68

[orangerful]

Thanks for the link! :D