This is nothing but dead white male bashing from a PC thug!

[vovat]

As I mentioned in my last post, I finished reading James W. Loewen's book Lies My Teacher Told Me yesterday. Overall, I liked the book a lot. It's mostly an exploration as to what's wrong with American history textbooks, and why high school students are bored by history. Mind you, I LIKED history in high school, but I'm pretty weird. Besides, I always enjoyed international history more than American. But I digress. There were a few themes that kept coming up in the book, including:

• Hero worship. Rather than presenting both the good and bad aspects of historical figures' actions and beliefs, American history classes and textbooks present these people as larger-than-life, too-good-to-be-true, godlike figures.
  
• Lack of context for events. There are references to war "breaking out," without any indication as to what actually causes these wars.
  
• Overzealous patriotism. The desire to portray the United States positively at all times means whitewashing the negative actions perpetrated by the government and citizens, and perpetuating myths (like those surrounding Christopher Columbus and the first Thanksgiving).
  
• No presentation of historical controversies. Textbooks tend to present everything as The Truth, rather than exploring different viewpoints and theories.
  

I've read many of the Amazon reviews for this book. A fair amount of negative reviews mention that the author has a left-wing slant, which does seem to be true. I think a lot of them miss the point, though. One guy says that Loewen is "a Reagon/Bush/Republican/America HATER" and "[v]ery far left-wing Socialist/Communist/Marxist/Useful Idiot 'Hatemonger.'" Did he just list every political philosophy he didn't like, and assume that Loewen must subscribe to one of them? And, really, if he loves Reagan so much, shouldn't he learn how to spell the former president's name? Along the same lines is another review that says the author has "Marxist/hippie/socialist/anti-American/anti-Christian beliefs." One frequent criticism is that the book bashes white males, which makes me wonder whether these critics ever read to the end of a chapter. On page 70, after mentioning that many textbook writers promote a "Columbus was good and so are we" viewpoint, adds, "I am not proposing the breast-beating alternative: that Columbus was bad and so are we. On the contrary, textbooks should show us that neither morality nor immorality can simply be conferred upon us by history." And on page 133, he writes, "Telling Indian history as a parade of white villains might be feel-good history for those who want to wallow in the inference that America or whites are bad. What happened is more complex than that, however, so the history we tell must be more complex." It's true that a lot of the information on historical figures is negative, but when the history books give such an unrealistically positive portrayal, doesn't this make sense? I did find it kind of odd that Abraham Lincoln, who is generally portrayed positively by history books, is given a treatment by Loewen that's...generally positive. I guess it's difficult to dislike Lincoln. {g} Besides, the information on Lincoln is probably more nuanced than usual. Other reviewers criticize a certain sentence on page 274 ("Perhaps we are all dupes, manipulated by elite white male capitalists who orchestrate how history is written as part of their scheme to perpetuate their own power and privilege at the expense of the rest of us."), without bothering to point out that Loewen himself offers doubt on this theory a few pages later. How apt that critics of a book that stresses the need for context ignore Loewen's own context.

A few of the negative reviews make some decent points. It's certainly possible that the twelve textbooks Loewen examines in his book don't comprise a representative sample. And I do agree that Loewen complaining that the state of Mississippi wouldn't adopt the textbook that he co-wrote might be a little unprofessional. But these are fairly minor points.

I end this semi-review with one of the most interesting facts I learned from the book. I quote from page 122:

"When students are informed that the Dutch bought Manhattan for $24 worth of trade goods, presumably they are meant to smile indulgently...Not one book points out that the Dutch paid the wrong tribe for Manhattan. Doubtless the Canarsees, native to Brooklyn, were quite pleased with the deal. The Weckquaesgeeks, who lived on Manhattan and really owned the land, weren't so happy."


Wow, that was longer than I had originally intended, and probably nobody will read it. Anyway, on to other matters.


I got this from 3x1minus1. It's similar to a meme I did a few months or so ago, but there are some different questions.

1. What's my mood like right now?
Love Is Eternity - They Might Be Giants

2. How's tomorrow going to be for me?
Pico & Sepulveda - Felix Figuero and His Orchestra

3. What kind of person am I?
Live In Spain (Reprise) - The Young Fresh Fellows

4. Am I loved?
The Great Society - Elf Power

5. How can I achieve my highest potential?
Hangover - Gomez

6. What should I do with my life?
Grass - Maplewood (Loser's Lounge Tribute to XTC)
(Does that mean I should have some outdoor sex?)

7. Is everything really going to be alright in the end?
Space Suit - TMBG

8. What is my best quality?
You Curse At Girls - Fountains of Wayne
(Wait, that's a GOOD quality?)

9. How does my sex Social life look?
Chocolate Cake - Corn Mo

10. What's the meaning of life?
Johnny Feelgood - Liz Phair

11. What do people think of me?
Take Care - Ken Stringfellow

12. Would I make a good lover?
Metroid Intro

13. How crazy am I?
Imaginary Friend - Mono Puff
(That's pretty crazy, huh? What's even crazier is that sarah also got this for one of her answers, albeit for a different question.)

14. Will I have a good life in general?
"Away To Zanarkand" from Final Fantasy X - The Video Game Pianist
(Maybe I'd understand that better if I'd ever played that game.)

15. Can (insert name here) ever really love me?
Randy Scouse Git - The Monkees

16. Can me and (insert name here) ever be more than friends?
When The Cows Come Home - Blur

17. What's going to happen to me this week?
Token Back To Brooklyn - TMBG

18. Where will I be a year from now?
Ooh La La - The Ditty Bops

19. What is my fondest wish?
Angry White Boy Polka - "Weird Al" Yankovic

20. What is the love of my life doing at this very moment?
Guilt - Paul Bellini

21. How did my parents meet?
A Christmas Carol - Tom Lehrer

22. How will I die?
Mr. E. Leon Rauis - Rasputina

23. What song will be played at my funeral?
Early Years - Laura Cantrell
(Coincidentally enough, bethje and I heard the tail end of Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me" on the radio this morning, and she mentioned how she wanted it played at her funeral. I don't have that song on my computer, though. Anyway, I think "Early Years" is a pretty sad song, but not in a funeral way.)

24. What will happen after I die?
Wonderful And Sad - Hawksley Workman

25. What will I dream about tonight?
Unfortunate Threnody - Ken Stringfellow
(Awww, why does it have to be unfortunate?)

26. How does my media player feel about me?
Flint Jack - The Monks of Doom


And this survey is from countblastula and zimbra1006:

FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE:
1. Movie theater usher
2. Grocery store bagger
3. Cashier at a toy store
4. Library cataloger

FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER:
1. UHF
2. The Big Lebowski
3. The Wizard of Oz
4. Back to the Future

FOUR TV SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH:
1. The Simpsons
2. Futurama
3. Family Guy
4. Mr. Show

FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION TO:
1. Maine
2. North Carolina
3. Montreal
4. Albuquerque

FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY:
1. http://www.livejournal.com/
2. http://forum.frankblack.net/
3. http://p208.ezboard.com/bozclubforums
4. http://www.nuklearpower.com/ (okay, usually only every OTHER day for that one)

FOUR OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE RESTAURANTS:
1. The Olive Garden
2. Red Lobster
3. Chick-fil-A
4. Just about any place that will serve eggs at dinnertime

FOUR COSTUMES YOU'VE WORN ON HALLOWEEN:
1. Elephant (later modified to be Kabumpo specifically)
2. Stegosaurus
3. Knight
4. Pirate

FOUR SCHOOLS YOU ATTENDED:
1. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
2. Drexel University
3. Junior high
4. High school

FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPINGS:
1. Mushrooms
2. Pepperoni
3. Extra Cheese
4. Ham

I can't think of four things most people don't know about me, so I'm going to skip that question and move on to this thing from lozenger8, where I list five weird habits I have:
1. I sometimes repeat what I just said under my breath.
2. I'll come up with weird routines, and then have trouble deviating from them.
3. I check things like the alarm clock and door locks numerous times.
4. I'll often check my e-mail first thing when I get up.
5. I have a tendency to walk with my head down (although I think I'm getting better in that respect).

Yeah, I'm a freak, aren't I? {g}


Wow, the new Minus 5 album is going to have guest appearances by Kelly Hogan and Colin Meloy (the latter being the lead singer of the Decemberists, for those of you who don't know). That's pretty cool.

I looked at the Ditty Bops' website to find out the actual name of the song that came up while I was doing that meme (for some reason, the CD Database lists it as "Ohh La La," but the site says it's "Ooh La La"; but don't get me started on the CDDB), and I noticed the advertisement for this calendar. I actually think it looks pretty cool, but I wouldn't pay any $20 for it.

Comments

[obsessical.livejournal.com]

How apt that critics of a book that stresses the need for context ignore Loewen's own context.

This kind of thing goes along with my theory (and i say theory but really I'm just like...stating the obvious...) that Republicans (and other narrow minded, ignorant people) tend not to read/view all of what they're criticizing. Like all the religious fundamentalists that protested Dogma before even seeing the film.

Ohhh people. What are we going to do with you?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I have to wonder why Amazon even accepts reviews from people who obviously haven't read the book.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Because it's an automatic posting system? I think even flat-out objectional posts only get deleted if someone else reads and complains.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Unless it's changed since I last submitted a review, I don't think that's the case. It always took three days before new reviews were posted, and at least of mine had a few words cut out before appearing.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

You kind of wish they WOULD cut the stupid ones, I thought just now, having gone on Amazon to buy Revenge of the Sith and found a series of the exact same review, copied directly, on every Star Wars movie saying It sucks because all star wars movies suck and only geeks with no life like them, and I'm like, is this really the place? People read these reviews because they're interested in finding out about the movie, they're not interested in your taste and the fact that you wouldn't be interested in that sort of movie in the first place. If you're going to post a lousy review it should be because you actually had high hopes about the thing in the first place, not because you just want to be obnoxious about a genre you don't like. Anyway....

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Not to imply that I'm NOT a geek with no life....

[yosef.livejournal.com]

3. I check things like the alarm clock and door locks numerous times.

I do this too, although I've gotten better this year. But in the past, I'd click the alarm clock on and off about three times to make sure it was on, and then check to make sure the alarm time was set right three times too. I don't worry about the door at school, because it locks on its own, but at home I can't fall asleep if I realize I never made sure the front and back doors were locked and that the coffee pot and toaster were unplugged. I don't seem to worry about any other electrical deviced besides those for some reason. So, just in case you were worrying you were the only neurotic one...

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I'm always worried that I left the oven on, and sometimes go back to check it several times. This fear might not be that unfounded, though, since I think there's been at least one occasion when I DID leave the oven on for too long.

I do pretty much the same thing with the alarm clock. When it's really important that I get up at a certain time, I'll sometimes even get someone else to double-check it for me.

[yosef.livejournal.com]

I left the oven on once this summer and started freaking out until I realized I had only set it to pre-heat and never put anything inside yet.

[revme.livejournal.com]

Paul Bellini? As in the dude from Kids in the Hall who got poked in a belly by a viewer?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I believe so, but I actually don't know much about KITH. I think the song was one of the ones that I got from 3x1minus1's journal.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

It is true. He put out two albums, but I have neither. :( I hear they are quite good, though.

[revme.livejournal.com]

That is so strange/unexpected - what sort of stuff is it?

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was longer than I had originally intended, and probably nobody will read it

I read it, because I was bored and will read anything, even reviews of books I will probably never be likely to read, rather than actually force myself to do something productive when I'm done glancing over Livejournal. I like that fact about Manhattan too. That's funny. I think primary school history classes are the ones that teach happy stories about pilgrims and god-like presidents, and that's all people remember because by the time real history gets around to being taught, they've stopped paying attention. And primary school history is really about why we have certain holidays, so naturally it's simplistic. I had an amazing high school history teacher, though....

1. I sometimes repeat what I just said under my breath.
A trait I long associated with just you, but then I met one of my husband's best friends, who noticably does the same thing (and it actually reminded me of you), so you're not the only one in the world, yet again!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I read it, because I was bored and will read anything, even reviews of books I will probably never be likely to read, rather than actually force myself to do something productive when I'm done glancing over Livejournal.

Yeah, I'm pretty much the same way. Besides, I want people to read everything I write, so I try to do the same thing for them. About the only things I'll skip are long lists or overly technical things, and even then I'll skim them.

You're probably right about primary school history. It makes sense that you wouldn't want things to be too complicated for young kids, but it still might be nice to occasionally take off the rose-colored glasses, even in elementary school. I'm sure you know considerably more about educational theory than I do, though.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Well, lately the problem with primary school history lessons is that schools are finding less and less time to actually teach them. In primary school, the focus is on reading, basic math, and basic social skills-- which teachers end up having to teach because parents suck. Social studies and science get relegated to a few periods a week, scraped in here and there. So they barely get to go into any detail. So what happens is holidays get taught, because they most directly affect the students' lives. The reason the only presidents most kids can name are George Washington and Abraham Lincoln is because they learned about Presidents' Day in school because that was the answer to the question Why do we have off school this random day in February? And then of course, any holiday with any religious history is going to be watered down for fear of offending someone, so those holidays' history is going to be simplistic as well... so it's really not much of anything. This is not the teachers' fault, I must add-- it is school districts and board policies and bad parents and all the other things that make it hard for teachers to actually do the jobs they were trained to do. Oh dear, here I go again... will shut up now.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

That calendar is pretty rad. Maybe we can get it in February for $1.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Maybe, although it says it's only available for a limited time.