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
7 Comments:
Thank you Rebecca for saying this. THANK YOU.
There are two issues that you mentioned here, both of which anger me (as I'm sure you know):
1. Learning history is good, but there's no jobs for it.
I'd like to say, this statement broils such an anger within me that I feel the urge to dent something, to chew and knaw on my own flesh, to break something. You don't know how many times I've heard people (adults) say this. Just today I heard my mom say it to someone in Iran about me and my interests in the English language. Oh, and the reason I rarely speak to my grandmother on the phone? Because when I do the first thing she says to me is, "I'm so glad you're interested in writing, but really, go to university, study something useful and get a good job! Then you can write in your spare time."
I stay silent as they say this to me, thinking about the conversations my mom probably has had with her, telling her about my stupidity for wanting to go into English. Then... I think logically and say to myself... what spare time?! My dad is the working one in the family, and he has NO spare time. He told me just yesterday that he hasn't read a book in two years, because he's too busy at work (His books from before when he would bus to work, are in the library, the ones I read now: Blind Assassin, Cat's Eye, etc -- and yes I'm off topic).
So yes... that bothers me. That pisses me off. None of it makes any sense.
Now, the second issue here:
2. Canada's boring. Canada's a stupid country:
Excuse my language, but FUCK you, whoever you are. The person who says this has probably never set foot in a third world country. This person has not seen the death and lack of freedom that is the result of living in a country other than Canada. They do not know how priviliged they are. These ignorant individuals are pure closed minded, imbesols. Canadians not only need to learn their history, but they also need to open their mind to other forms of art. We're a community where the parents of the first generations came here for a better future. They want a good education, and the education being demanded here, is Maths and Sciences. This is because our economy consists mostly on counting our money, This seems to leave little space for the arts, of any form. So, canada needs a culture, and I believe our culture needs some changing. We need to be more open minded, more acceptance to our country's past, and at the same time, open our eyes to the different forms of knowledge out there. after all,"A country without a memory is a country of madmen."
George Santayana
well *deep breath*
That was my take :)
xox
Sahar.
i meant more knowledgable about our past ^_^ so many typos.
History is a very important resource...perhaps not the most valuable...although it could be made marginally more valuable, if, as a species, we could "take lessons from our history" a little more than we seem to....
www.bionicbuddha.com
: ) I love bionicbuddha
bionic: i agree. We need to learn from history. But everyone seems to need to make their own mistakes.
Alex: lol.
Good post - I'll be back for more
unfortunately - it's Friday - and My concentration is shot. Party time.
But what I read so far has caught even my sleepy eye
Thank you for having a voice
History is very valuable, even career wise.
Who is the largest employeer? (I'm assuming this is the case in Canada as in the US)
The government.
But it's beyond that, there is something about hearing, reading and being part of history that makes you a better person.
ps. I just went back to my blog from recently being away from it for a long time.
slopmaster.wordpress.com
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