The Importance of History
[ US Crusade Home ] [ News and Views Board ] September 19, 2001
By Amon Hotep
Following the attacks on America, people suddenly realized they needed to know more about other cultures in the world, and about different religious and political structures, which were previously ignored in schools.
The belief that one's familiar cultural view is the only way and all others are irrelevant is the ignorance that feeds demands for unrealistic and even more destructive actions and reactions.
People must not simply believe that political and military leaders understand the fragile and complex history of the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa and Russia - it is equally important that public opinion be well-informed as it is a powerful force in shaping the responses available to leaders/misleaders.
Most people's understanding of the world was shaped by what they learned at school. World History should be the main subject in schools, which can provide the foundation for knowledge of current world affairs. How many people studied African, Chinese, and even Arabian cultures and the causes of world conflicts among different peoples? None of these issues are present in the schools curriculum.
Most West Indian children were taught about Morgan, Drake, the Vikings, Romans, and the likes and secondary school studies were mostly about a glamorized British version of their conquests. Many have vague understanding of pre-colonial African, Asian, Chinese and even European history.
Learning and discussing world history is valuable for people to understand present world events and for them to be able to interact across diverse cultural groups. This is what these Websites are about; these are the issues that most people should engage.
Take president Bush's statement about the US crusade. He was ignorant of the wider historical feelings associated with crusade and what it meant to Islamic Nations. But he calls on them to forge this alliance to go on his crusade. That is a reflection of his limited understanding of world history coupled with the Brute arrogance of many wealthy White Americans.
I have written immensely about this so I guess many people are now learning of this need by brute force.[ SEPTEMBER HOMEPAGE ]
