"The biggest lie we still teach in American history classes" Topic

"One of my favorite writers, Gore Vidal, once described his country as the United States of Amnesia. "We learn nothing because we remember nothing," he wrote.

Vidal's point is simple enough: America's concept of itself is shaped by mythology, not by facts. And it's harder to address mistakes if you're unwilling to face them honestly.

In 1995, James Loewen set out to resolve this problem. He published a landmark book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, that went on to sell more than 2 million copies. Loewen taught race relations for two decades at the University of Vermont, and spent two years at the Smithsonian Institution, where he surveyed past American history textbooks…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Buckle up.

This author is like all others, including film , art etc
" He is so smart he can see all of the flaws but… the fellow saying the opposite is blind hmmmmm?
Junk Armand!
C

When I was young I feared being gored by bull, now I'm being bulled by a Gore.

When someone starts out with "One of my favorite writers, Gore Vidal…"; well, I simply stop reading,

Oh here we go again.

Seems fairly accurate, although it probably applies to most countries. People prefer the myth rather than the unvarnished truth.

Ah yes, America is so racist that it elected a half-black/half-white man President, and has also elected a black/Indian woman Vice-President.

So, that's not actual proof we are getting better, and that old barriers are falling?

Some/many black and other minority people have said that "only in America" could they have succeeded as much as they have here, due to their prior economic status and racial/family background. Are they wrong?

Gore Vidal and Howard Zinn referenced in the first 3 paragraphs?

That was the end for me.

Article is worthless writing, wasted time.

What the heck does this have to do with playing with toy soldiers?

Born in 1946 and grew up under segregation, I have seen dramatic collapse of racism. Civil rights act of 1964 had profound impact. Honestly, much current "racism" is politicians trying to keep us divided.

I share Oddball's view of Zinn and Vidal.

Glup!…

Amicalement
Armand

That America is a bad, racist country.

Several of Gore Vidal's novels are quite entertaining and interesting.
Lincoln, Burr, Julian.
Note I said "entertaining and interesting". I said nothing about factually accurate. But novels don't need that, do they?

However, some of his stuff is crap.

I think the biggest lie in American history is that only people who really hate this country (and get rich doing it) can tell our story.

"What the heck does this have to do with playing with toy soldiers?"

They'll be coming for those next… :-o

An army of Useful Idiots willfully marching into bondage because of their own self-hatred for something some else did.

Wolfhag

What more can I say that hasn't already been said?

+1 to all

As soon as they start identifying themselves as PhDs I immediately think back to a line from Isaac Asimov's
"Foundation Trilogy" when the hero was talking about his PhD, "Piled Higher and Deeper".
Pretty much says it all, even my wife agrees…Doctor Sherry Schwartz, PhD in Education.

Agree with Ten Fingered Jack, move this to the Red Fez or delete the post. It has nothing to do with 'Miniatures' and everything to do with politics.