From 9/2/09

“Why History?”

A. Marwick states, “History is to the community as memory is to the individual.”

This analogy is true; history is what we know about the past, and its function as such is a

vital one. However, history’s role as the memory of a community is but one of many

reasons to study history, including increased tolerance and understanding of other

cultures, development of a healthy skepticism toward potential propaganda, and the many

new ideas stemming from historical studies.

Learning the histories of many groups and cultures promotes multicultural

awareness. For example, post-World War II Germans were at first the subjects of intense

discrimination. Many Americans, hearing about Nazi atrocities such as the Holocaust,

were of the opinion that all Germans were mean and insensitive racists. These opinions

became less common and severe as people learned the history of Germany before and

during the war. Hitler’s rise to power becomes more believable when one considers the

dire economic conditions facing the nation at the time, and the extensive propaganda

used. With this knowledge, people can see Germans as they really are, regular people

who happened to have had a few cruel people in the political foreground. Increased

tolerance and understanding are also achieved by studying the history of the Middle East.

Knowing about the long-standing religious and cultural differences informs our opinion

of the current situation. The conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians, Sunni and Shiites

make more sense with a historical background. In fact, this background is even used in

making decisions about US foreign policy, and finding the best way to create a peaceful

Middle East. In these examples, using history as memory important, but it is equally vital

*Changes from the original essay are highlighted.

that one apply these memories. Simply remembering facts does not create understanding

or tolerance; specific analysis also plays an essential role.

Another practical use of the study of history is that it prepares people to evaluate

claims for truthfulness or bias. A study of history would not be complete without

studying propaganda. From outright lies such as the USSR created about its past, to

characterizations and name-calling that the US used during the World Wars, naming the

enemies “Huns” and “Japs”, to evoking dramatic images and themes like those used in

Johnson’s “Daisy” advertisement or Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” speech, history is full of

examples and techniques of misinformation. By studying these cases, we are taught the

tools necessary to evaluate claims made in our own lives, to determine their veracity. In

this case, history’s function as memory is of only secondary importance. It is the study of

these memories that trains our mind to follow useful thought patterns, and these thought

patterns, not the memories themselves, provide us a defense against large-scale

dishonesty.

Many great ideas were conceived thanks to the study of history. Martin Luther

King, Jr. was influenced by Gandhi’s efforts in India when he led the nonviolent African

American civil rights movement. Famous generals throughout history are known to have

studied the actions of previous generals and adapted ideas for their own battles. The

Founding Fathers studied a variety of civilizations and governments when formulating

ideas for the US Constitution. The final product shows the influence of Greek political

philosophy. Clearly, one must remember the past events in order to have new ideas based

on them, but this is another case in which the most important components are the

application of the history and the thought process behind this application.

*Changes from the original essay are highlighted.

 History may be likened to memory, but it serves a variety of purposes. History’s

role as memory would be pointless if the memories could not be applied to our lives

today. The study of history can have a direct impact on the life of the student by

facilitating increased multicultural understanding, making the student less gullible, and

even inspiring the student to find creative solutions to problems. It is these and other uses

for our collective memory that make the study of history meaningful and worthwhile.

*Changes from the original essay are highlighted.