“History is written by the winners.”

"History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are." (David McCullough)

The philosophy of history asks us who is the proper unit from which to learn history.  The individual?  A nation?  A civilization?  Culture?  Or the whole of human life?

We’ve come to live in a society that views history as a line
ar thing.  But the old world viewed history as cyclical.  Who is right?  And how does our own views about the nature of history affect how we teach it?

One area of education that interests me in particular is the variances in the way single topic are taught, depending on your geographical location.  For example, how does Civil War Education vary from the North to the South?  And outside America’s borders entirely?

In a brief perusal of the Internet, there are several items that caught my eye.  

Here is an educator who lays out his ideas for teaching the civil war as “A Southern View of History: The War for Southern Independence.”

Here is another site that lays out the causes of the w
ar as seen by Southerners. 

There is also continued debate over the naming of the Civil War.  The Civil War, The War of Northern Aggression, The War over States’ Rights, The War between the States…each ‘name’ giving insight into the different views still held about the Civil War.

In my personal experience, primarily in the North, Civil War education was taught from the perspective of the Northerners. 

I have not yet delved into the extensive research this topic could cover.  But as a precursor to that, I pose a question to you.  How did you learn about the Civil War, and where did you learn it?  Was it taught from the perspective of the Union or the Confederacy?  Was it a war over slavery or states rights or taxes (or etc.)?  Does your memory of your education into the period take into account the perspectives of all parties?  Or of foreign views of the war?

"What we do about history matters. The often repeated saying that those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them has a lot of truth in it. But what are 'the lessons of history'? The very attempt at definition furnishes ground for new conflicts. History is not a recipe book; past events are never replicated in the present in quite the same way. Historical events are infinitely variable and their interpretations are a constantly shifting process. There are no certainties to be found in the past." (Gerda Lerner)

In 5 months, Americans will come to the polls and vote for who they think is best suited for the Presidency.  

In 5 months, Americans will make the final judgment on who is best suited to protect their children, their families.  

In 5 months, one of two very different men will be chosen to fulfill that job.

5 months is a long time.  

It was 21 days between the time the U.S invaded Iraq and "Bagdad fell."  43 days between the time Operation Iraqi Freedom began and President Bush stood aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared "Mission Accomplished."

5 months is a long time.

2 weeks ago, the Israeli military conducted a quite noticeable airstrike exercise.  "American officials say [it] appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities."  

"[A] second U.S. defense official said the maneuver could be taken as a demonstration to Iran and the international community that Israel is serious about the need to challenge Iran's nuclear program - and could be prepared to do so militarily.

Ray McGovern's take on it at Alternet is worth a read.

Amidst the rush and roar of the election, under the uproar over campaign finance, Bush may not go softly into the night.  We must not forget that he is still in the White House.  We must not forget that five months is a long time.  A lot could happen.  This time, we must stay vigilant.