Do you think American history would have different ring to it if told from say the Natives point of view. or what do british history books say about the American revolution.
Just wondering if american history is any more true than the gospels.
2006-09-06 08:17:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Read "People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present" by Howard Zinn. This will get you thinking about of all the BS you were taught in school.
2006-09-06 08:24:32 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas S 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends. I think the reality of what was done to the Native Americans is widely known. They were evicted from their lands, lacked food and supplies, and murdered/slaughtered in various ways. What else is there to say? I learned that in school so I'd say my history book was telling the truth.
The British would say that we fought like cowards hiding behind trees and such but since so much time has passed...no one really cares. It's now just history. The British are now our allies.
Sure history is told by the winners. Anyone smart enough like you and I would know to dig deeper and look at the other side.
I did happen to go to private school. I remember a big ordeal about the public school books which had 3 pages dedicated to Marilyn Monroe and two paragraphs about JFK. That was messed up!
2006-09-06 08:24:49 · answer #2 · answered by Jasmine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
American history is much truer than the Gospels, but this does not in any way suggest that American history is unbiased. It surely is!! But the reason American history is much more trustworhty than the Gospels is that the history is much more recent and it was written by four million people instead of four. So, I would estimate that American history is about a million times more reliable than the Gospels (in terms of absolute verismilitude). I am a devout Christian, but it is not because I believe the Gospels contain the precise truth of what actually happened so long ago; it is because I believe in the message of Christ. Remember this: history is, and always has been, written by the winners of the wars. America's histories are more reliable than histories have ever been, but this is due to the large number of photos, video images, reporters and historians, etc. during the past hundred years, and not because America is so naturally righteous.
2006-09-06 08:32:27 · answer #3 · answered by voltaire 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
History is different from every perspective.
PBS has a very interesting account told by American Indians. Look it up.
I was watching BBC News a couple days ago about Africa. And it made me think for the first time. How lucky African Americans are to not be in the heat of the Jungle.
History has a lot of views.
2006-09-06 08:35:22 · answer #4 · answered by 43 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i am told that our history books are approved by the government..i found in school i didn't know enough of the info in order to feel that i was understanding the subjects..i feel they leave alot of details out and it makes it hard for a person not to grow up and be closed minded unless they go out and study some of the stuff in the history books a little further..but what is the chances?
It is my feeling that each person from each culture should be able to go to the schools and talk about their side because whether we won or lost that is not important what is important is how the people felt about what was going on at that time and there is alot of elders that could shed some light on some of these subjects but unfortunately our history is one way..government approved..and they watch the teachers..
I think we should all work towards ending prejudice and see people for who they are and not for who we are taught they are
and yes the natives tell the stories differently..so does the other cultures..and the people who was there, and the people who have family that they know of from that time frame these stories are past down..
2006-09-06 08:26:29 · answer #5 · answered by away right now 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read Howard Zinn's A People's History of the US, it's a good place to start if you're interested in real American history, not the watered-down disney version they sell you growing up.
2006-09-06 08:21:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is probably more accurately portrayed than the events of the gospels, but anything can be told from a biased point of view.
If you want the truth, you will have to read several versions of the story and use your logic and intuition to fill the gaps and draw your own conclusions.
Also try settling for less than 100% accuracy.
2006-09-06 08:24:32 · answer #7 · answered by aka DarthDad 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is and it doesn't have to be told just by Americans now the history is told from the views of the natives, immigrants, and foreigners who were involved in it.
2006-09-06 08:18:37 · answer #8 · answered by loretta 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have to keep in mind that history is always written by the winner.
2006-09-06 08:24:48 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the winning side always write the history books.
2006-09-06 08:19:14 · answer #10 · answered by greeneyedprincess 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋