HISTORY
While reading a few opinions about history, I felt like debating the point that history is not just a subject. it is humanity's most valuable resource.
You have no idea how many people tell me, "Why study history? It's pretty useless. The most useless course there is. The only thing you learn from history is 'men don't learn from history'."
That actually came out of my Uncle's mouth. Oh, and from my OTHER uncle:
"History can be interesting, but you can't really find a good job in it"
It's really quite interesting how the only thing my dear uncle can connect with history is "job". Is that what our society today is all about? A damn career? Sure, a career is important. But it does not keep you from becoming an airheaded individual with no opinion and no personality. I would rather study history in university and (in the words of my dear uncle) "waste time", than study something i totally dislike but can earn me a six digit salary in the future. I dont' mind studying a "useless" subject to keep from becoming uncultured and pathetically feather-brained.
I think this is why us North Americans do not appreciate our culture as much as other countries. I think this is why North American culture isn't so prominent, isn't so distinguished. We cover up by saying, "Canada is a mosaic. It is a young country. Its culture will take long to develop and thrive". I believe the main reason for our lack of appreciation for our culture, is because we do not appreciate our own history. We would be much more patriotic and a more united country if we bothered to absorb Grade 10 Canadian history as opposed to study for the credit. They make so many documentaries on how ignorant Americans are. Personally i believe we have no right to indulge and poke fun at their ignorance, when a) many of us are uneducated in our own history and b) few of us know American history either. Vice versa for the Americans, of course.
It's perfectly fine if you don't like the subject, but not liking it is no excuse for neglecting it. I think it's such a good idea that Grade 10 Canadian history is mandatory, even if people dont' take it seriously - it gives us something to be proud of, and it shows us what a long way we've come. You have no idea how often i hear people say, "I hate Canada". Do these people know when Christopher Columbus first stepped foot here? Do these people know what the war of 1812 was? Have these people heard of "The Little House in the Big Woods" series?
(if you do, you're my new hero btw lol)
Like i was saying, Canada is not as bad as the people make it. It seems "bad" and "Boring" because of the thick atmosphere of IGNORANCE that plagues our cities. How many of the people who say Canada is horrible, have actually gone and travelled around our peacekeeping country and have relished its nature? (GO SEE "The Snow Walker" - totally off topic lol)
The point is, history is not a humdrum subject we should treat like an appendix. The truth is, it repeats itself. Yes, it can be ugly. But who is it who always says "Take the good with the bad". Us. Us people say that. Studying history makes us critical thinkers, and it is a perfect way to separate ourselves from our own cookie cutter society.
So basically, after all of what I just ranted on... it all boils down to this: History should not be ignored. It changes ignorance into appreciation and intellect - something North America needs to pay more attention to.
You have no idea how many people tell me, "Why study history? It's pretty useless. The most useless course there is. The only thing you learn from history is 'men don't learn from history'."
That actually came out of my Uncle's mouth. Oh, and from my OTHER uncle:
"History can be interesting, but you can't really find a good job in it"
It's really quite interesting how the only thing my dear uncle can connect with history is "job". Is that what our society today is all about? A damn career? Sure, a career is important. But it does not keep you from becoming an airheaded individual with no opinion and no personality. I would rather study history in university and (in the words of my dear uncle) "waste time", than study something i totally dislike but can earn me a six digit salary in the future. I dont' mind studying a "useless" subject to keep from becoming uncultured and pathetically feather-brained.
I think this is why us North Americans do not appreciate our culture as much as other countries. I think this is why North American culture isn't so prominent, isn't so distinguished. We cover up by saying, "Canada is a mosaic. It is a young country. Its culture will take long to develop and thrive". I believe the main reason for our lack of appreciation for our culture, is because we do not appreciate our own history. We would be much more patriotic and a more united country if we bothered to absorb Grade 10 Canadian history as opposed to study for the credit. They make so many documentaries on how ignorant Americans are. Personally i believe we have no right to indulge and poke fun at their ignorance, when a) many of us are uneducated in our own history and b) few of us know American history either. Vice versa for the Americans, of course.
It's perfectly fine if you don't like the subject, but not liking it is no excuse for neglecting it. I think it's such a good idea that Grade 10 Canadian history is mandatory, even if people dont' take it seriously - it gives us something to be proud of, and it shows us what a long way we've come. You have no idea how often i hear people say, "I hate Canada". Do these people know when Christopher Columbus first stepped foot here? Do these people know what the war of 1812 was? Have these people heard of "The Little House in the Big Woods" series?
(if you do, you're my new hero btw lol)
Like i was saying, Canada is not as bad as the people make it. It seems "bad" and "Boring" because of the thick atmosphere of IGNORANCE that plagues our cities. How many of the people who say Canada is horrible, have actually gone and travelled around our peacekeeping country and have relished its nature? (GO SEE "The Snow Walker" - totally off topic lol)
The point is, history is not a humdrum subject we should treat like an appendix. The truth is, it repeats itself. Yes, it can be ugly. But who is it who always says "Take the good with the bad". Us. Us people say that. Studying history makes us critical thinkers, and it is a perfect way to separate ourselves from our own cookie cutter society.
So basically, after all of what I just ranted on... it all boils down to this: History should not be ignored. It changes ignorance into appreciation and intellect - something North America needs to pay more attention to.
posted by Anonymous at 6:56 PM
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