Why do we Prefer Reading About Current Events but Hardly About History?
By josefina
@josie_ (9763)
Philippines
June 10, 2018 11:04pm CST
"Today's news is tommorrow's bird cage poop catcher"
I had an interesting discussion with a fellow mylotter. Our comments were genial despite having diametrically opposing political views. He jokingly called me a "liberal" because I quoted Hitler and ask why I seem to be "Throwing a lot of negatives, accusations, propaganda against the US" perhaps because "I was denied a visa?" (probably also written tongue in cheek).
The discussion had by then turn to the history of the beginnings of US involvement in Philippine affairs. From his perspective, Filipinos should be grateful for all the things the US has done for our country. I will only say it has always been a "love-hate" relationship between these two countries.
It is understandable why any foreigner would have a different perspective and reaction when viewing current news from other countries. More so if it directly or indirectly affect their way of life. This is where a knowledge of the event's historical background can give context to what is happening today. .
Many prejudice and deep seated resentment happening today are rooted in the past. Yet we allow ourselves to be swayed by rabble-rousers who have mastered the art of manipulation through media "fake news". How many lives are lost because we listen to the tunes of political pied pipers waving the flag of "patriotism", whose only interests are those of their own elite class? Should it be any wonder why we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of history?
Not all current events are history in the making. Many things reported in media are trivial and soon forgotten. Yet these are the "news" which more often than not go viral. (purposely headlined to divert our attention from more important news events)
What kind of "news" attract your attention?
Do you think the primary purpose of "news" should be entertainment?
image: pxhere cc public domain
9 people like this
9 responses
@Hannihar (129607)
• Israel
22 Jun 18
@josie_
I understand what you are saying why would a foreigner have an interest in someone else's country. I am a Jew and live in my Homeland which is Israel and people have a comment all the time about Israel and Jews and they are not always nice ones.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
22 Jun 18
I'm guessing you are referring to comments cause by the Israel-Palestine conflict that began after the Arab-Israeli conflict which arose when Zionism and Arab independence movements collided after the end of WWII and colonialism in the Middle East. Understanding history gives us a better perspective.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129607)
• Israel
22 Jun 18
@josie_
The Arabs never wanted us here but our history is here. We have been in this are for over 3,000 years. It is the Israeli-Arab thing. There is not Palestine. We were call the Palestinians and Israel was called Palestine before it became Israel. I do not know what you know about Hitler and the Middle East . Arabs and Hitler were buddies so your theory about after the Holocaust wrong. Did you know that FDR the president of the United States had a quota on letting Jews into the United States and sent them back to their deaths. Over 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust and if Hitler's Final Solution worked he would wipe us all out. I was not born then. I born in 1950 in Minneapolis. When the land was partitioned in 1948 the Arabs rejected what they were given and we Jews were given a little sliver of land and we won land in the Six Day War and we made the desert bloom and built up this country. We build and they destroy. They use their own people as shields. You have to understand this part of the world before you can understand what is going on in the world. You also have to understand who the enemy is. I know who they are. I take it you never heard of Theodor Herzl. He was the father of Zionism and he was around long before the Holocaust. We have our military cemetery in Jerusalem named after him and also a street named after him. This is a link about Herzl. Please read it:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Theodor Herzl Theodor Herzl Born (1860-05-02)2 May 1860 Pest, Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire Died 3 July 1904(1904-07-03) (aged 44) Reichenau an der Rax, Archduchy of Austria belo
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
22 Jun 18
@Hannihar _ People look at their country's past history with the view they were raise and educated with. Take for example the massacre of an estimated 300,000 Chinese in Nanjing before WW11. To Chinese students it was one of many atrocities committed by Japan. But Japanese students have no knowledge of this because their school books make no mention of the incident. Even the Holocaust has been question as to whether it really happen by people with anti-Semitic prejudice..
My point is given a chance to alter the history books, those who are in authority would do so in order to cast their country in a more favorable light as well as leave a false legacy to the next generation.
I'm not aware of FDR repatriating Jews back to Germany but it is a fact that there were many American Nazi sympathizers before the outbreak of WWII. Henry Ford, John D Rockefeller and the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh are some that come to mind.
Thanks for the link. I read a book about the history of Middle East conflict you might find interesting. "From Beirut to Jerusalem" by Thomas Friedman.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130216)
• India
11 Jun 18
That is the right way to go. We live in the present atleast I do (lol)
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
11 Jun 18
I completely agree with you about fake news and manipulation by the media. It has always been so, to a degree, though. The public at largeis at the mercy of those in "higher" places. I think we all feel that and I believe that's where so many conspiracy theories begin. The feeling that someone or something is controlling our lives besides us.
As to history, how much of that can we truly believe? It seems to change according to who writes it. We should understand it, but do we?
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
11 Jun 18
It is said that history is written by the victorious. There have been many attempts to rewrite or change historical facts to fit the narrative of those in power. Either for propaganda purpose or to cover up misdeeds of the past. Fortunately there are people who are preserving history faithfully and without bias.
With information overload because of the internet, it is up to us to use critical thinking and a healthy dose of suspicion.
2 people like this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
11 Jun 18
Because we live in the present, not in the past.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
11 Jun 18
@josie_ You said it. I don't like to read history books because it is boring. But in high school, we had a history class. We have to read history book.
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
23 Jun 18
I think it's primary purpose is to inform and educate.. But these days we don't know any more which ones are real or which ones are fake news..
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459623)
• Switzerland
11 Jun 18
History is the past and it serves the purpose to avoid making the same mistakes. This is the reason why we should all know more about history. What is now depicted with a "perfect mission" to free people, was not exactly seen the same way from the populations who lived those events. The primary purpose of the news is not to be entertained, it is to be informed of what is going on... and ready to reach the shelter.
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
19 Jun 18
I'm not even sure anymore what real news looks like. You're right about a need to know the history before making assumptions based on 'news'. Live and learn I guess.
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
22 Jun 18
@josie_ We need to always be discerning when it comes to news. I've gotten to where no matter what channel or where it comes from I add the thought - 'now what is the rest of story or what's on the other side of the coin. I don't believe anyone gives a full accounting, there is always more.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
26 Jun 18
@Namelesss _It's so hard not being swayed by our own bias. It will affect our thought process even when we BELIEVE we are evaluating the news objectively.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Jun 18
I try to live in the now and the the past lay to rest.
1 person likes this
