Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - Overall issue

I'm citing GW, because he is the BEST example to prove my overall point. And what IS that point?

It is NOT wrong - in fact, it is entirely reasonable - to focus on "great men" in history. Historians like Nash and Zinn believe it is immoral to do so. They feel that we should focus on the masses - and, in their minds, that almost always means the oppressed or disadvantaged minority groups within the so-called "masses." They say that these folks represent the most important currents of history. I DISAGREE!

First of all, people are people. A multimillionaire is a person just like a poor, illiterate woman who can't feed her children. They are both people - and both are equal in the eyes of God.

BUT...when it comes to history....

We must understand that some people rise above the crowd and make significant impacts on society and culture.

George Washington made a greater and more decisive impact on US history than any other general in US history, any other President (incl, in my view, Lincoln - but some historians will disagree with me on that one), and any common foot soldier. Does this discredit foot soldiers? No, it merely states the OBVIOUS.

Stephen Collins Foster made a greater impact on American culture and music than I did - even though I was financially struggling middle-class student who played clarinet in high school because it was the only instrument I could afford! My sob story (and I'm really not that broken up about it - but if I listened to liberals long enough, I could convince myself to be so) does NOT change the fact the Foster was a great musician - and I'm not. That Foster warrants space in the history books, and I do not!

There is a reason why history tends to focus on extraordinary individuals ('great men') as opposed to the ordinary, common masses. And that is because the extraordinary folks were themselves ordinary people who ROSE ABOVE their circumstances to make an imprint in history. We SHOULD recognize and highlight that fact - and not be ashamed of it.

People should not be made to feel guilty because they become rich or influential - or because they warrant space in a history book.

Bottom line...I support the traditional approach to reading and studying history.