History is already written. It happened. History books are merely the effort by people to discover the facts and understand the complex unfolding of the tapestry of human existence.
I am a lifelong consumer of history. I tend to drift through eras and will read multiple books on a subject before moving onto something else. I especially love period books. For example, I have a WWI history book that was written in 1919. It reads like the era it was written in – full of nationalism, bigotry, and ignorance of things that would not be known for many years after the book was written. When reading history, it is always important to remember that whatever you are reading was written by a person. That person has a perspective, a work ethic (or lack thereof), an ax to grind, a purpose for devoting years of their life to the narrative, and is bound by the social and information limitations of their own time and culture. Reading Dodge is very different than Toland who is very different than Tacitus, but they all have their place in telling our human story.
The same is true for the people pushing The 1619 Project. They have a perspective. They also have several of their facts woefully wrong because they are pushing a specific agenda. As long as we understand that, reading their perspective can add to understanding. It is a shame that it takes a Brit to remind Americans of what their history really is and that it is still OK to be proud of our nation’s birth story.
The 1619 Project undoubtedly provides a huge amount of very important information about the history of American slavery and I would encourage people to read it.
But the central tenet of the main author’s belief is historically wrong, incredibly damaging, and it should not be part of any school curriculum.
American kids should not be told that their country’s great War of Independence was waged to maintain slavery.
That’s not why most colonists fought it; they fought it to end British colonial rule and establish the United States of America.
Young Americans should feel proud of that victory, not ashamed, and should be taught that their country began in 1776 with the glorious Declaration of Independence, not in 1619 with the ignominious arrival of slaves to Virginia.
To reframe the dismantling of British rule as a battle to maintain slavery in the way the NYT has done is not just misguided, it’s disgraceful.
The applied theory here is Marxist, but instead of economics, it’s racism. Follows the application of the theory to the sexes and the subsequent creation ex nihilo of “genders”.
Go on, Dad29. Tell us all about your expertise with sex and gender. You’ve known some people who weren’t quite one or the other, who didn’t align with the Way You Think The World Should Be?
jjf,
So you support the “hate America” 1619 Project’s radical Marxism?
It’s 10 a.m. and Kevin’s up asking people to denounce.
I googled “Piers Morgan is wrong about…” and the autofill suggested hundreds of things.
Owen may be right that people have perspectives and axes to grind, but he didn’t talk about what 1619 might’ve gotten right about the human story. Did he read it?
jjf,
What are you talking about?
I asked if you supported the 1619 project. Too sheepish to give a straight answer? that gives me some hope for you.
I haven’t read it, or maybe have only seen bits and pieces. Don’t have a subscription. Would probably enjoy it. Have read similar explanations, though. Have you read it? Has Owen? Has Dad29?
jjf,
Unwilling to admit your cult membership in 1619 Project?
I’m willing to admit 1619 project is disgusting, Marxist, Anti-American treason?
Will you?
” he didn’t talk about what 1619 might’ve gotten right about the human story”
Is that standard for education now?
You read it top to bottom, Kevin? That’s where your criticism and concern comes from?
Mar, that’s what Owen is talking about. He likes to read all sides, many views, he says. So I can ask, has he read the 1619 Project or is he just parroting something the President and Piers are talking about these days?
I read the putrid NY Times article extoling it months ago.
When I brought topic up with Nord, he was ignorant of 1619 project, accused me of making it up.
Do you support 1619 project?
Why do you liberals evade the most simple questions.
Take a stand. Stop dancing around your dripping radicalism. Drool it out like Biden does.
No k, that isn’t true. Not any of it. You made that all up. Does lying so blatantly make you feel more important? More manly? It should make you feel ashamed at your dishonesty. Not very christian of you.
I’ll make my own denouncement here:
Kevin is lying.
Just curious, why the outrage with the 1619 project, and not others that disregard, ignore, or twist history? Several regular posters here, and the current occupant of the WH routinely exhibit a disregard or willful ignorance of history. Why the selective outrage?
White supremacy, Le Roi.
Le Roi is a white supremacist?
Mar, keep your story straight. Everyone else besides you is a lying liar who lies all the time, and everyone else is racist and sexist except you.
Le ROI says: “Several regular posters here, and the current occupant of the WH routinely exhibit a disregard or willful ignorance of history.”
Well, that describes Le Roi.
jjf says “White supremacy, Le Roi.”
Only a logical question, jjf.
And no, not everyone here is a liar. Certainly you, Le Roi and Randall are. But Pat usually isn’t and certainly not lately. Other liberals who have posted are not.
And as far as racists, well, you fit that category but I don’t Le Roi, nor Pat nor Randall. Just you.
And sexists, well, that describes you and Le Roi.
So, again you are lying.
Who else is obsessed with lying liars? Just you? Or calling everyone else “racist?” Maybe Kevin? You’re in great company.
No, jjf, I just call you a racist, which you have proved time after time after time.
And which you’ve never “proved” even once.
Dream on jjf, but nice revisionist history.
We aren’t talking liars here mar, but rather folks that ignore, disregard, and twist history. Folks like you and trump are classy examples, but there are others here that fit the role. The word “History” is even in the title. Pay attention.