Thank you David.
Anne Gwaltney
-----Original Message-----
>From: "Hardin, David" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: May 23, 2007 12:11 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
>
> Judging by J. South's comment, some of us have
> learned very little. Because history is a product
> of culture, the history that is being written today
> reflects the changes in our society. Those who
> complain so much about “PC” history are saying
> much less about the new history than they are about
> their own deep-seated fears and prejudices. When
> they rant about “PC history that ‘celebrates’
> such nonsense in American History such as Harriet
> Tubman,” what they’re really saying is “Why do
> we have to hear about all of ‘those people’?”
> What do they want? Traditional Correctness, of
> course. “TC” history is the kind of history
> that for centuries in Virginia was written to
> promote myths of Cavaliers, or divinely-inspired
> Founders, or beknighted martyrs of a fanciful Lost
> Cause. I’m a descendants of both Jamestown and
> Plymouth (by way of Priscilla Mullins, no less), but
> I was bored silly by the kind of WASP commentary
> that was taught as the "official" history when I was
> growing up in the 60s and 70s in Fairfax County. It
> may come as a shock to some, but the past is full of
> peoples and events that bare little resemblance to
> the lily white and starch-stiff TC history that has
> been inflicted upon us until fairly recently. I'd
> like to think the stake finally has been driven
> through the heart of sanitized, jingoistic,
> nationalistic, Anglo-centric, feel-good "American"
> history, but TC history will be around as long as
> there are people interested in hearing narrow and
> sterile interpretations of the past. The real
> lesson of the Jamestown Quadricentennial is that it
> is a perfect example of how some would like to see
> the past and how it really was. You can either skip
> happily through the sanitized and idealized
> Jamestown Settlement – with brave, noble, and
> properly-bathed Englishmen living in harmony with
> “friendly” (read: subservient) Natives – or
> you can deal with the reality of Jamestown Island
> – full of heroes, scoundrels, and bad smells
> surrounded by angry Natives, both willing to do very
> unpleasant things to survive. I would suggest that
> the former is for school kids while the latter is
> for grownups.
>
>
>
> Now having sniped at Jamestown Settlement, let me
> note that the program this past weekend at
> Chesterfield County’s Henricus Historical Park –
> featuring a visit by the Godspeed – was very well
> done and extremely well attended. The reenactment
> program there is fairly good and, except for the
> usual lack of sailing vessels there, gives Jamestown
> Settlement a run for its money (as a county park, it
> is considerably cheaper). An interesting parallel
> to Henricus Historical Park is Pioneer Village in
> Salem, Massachusetts. While Henricus interprets the
> “Citie of Henricus” circa 1611 (thereby being
> able to largely sidestep the slavery issue), Pioneer
> Village interprets the fishing village of Salem
> circa 1630 (thereby sidestepping the witch issue –
> although they do have a ducking stool!). As
> Henricus is a pleasant alternative to Jamestown, so
> Salem’s Pioneer Village is a wonderful alternative
> to Plymouth Plantation. When I was there several
> years ago, the park was populated by reenactors who
> were good enough actors with enough knowledge to
> remain in character. It may be even better now that
> it’s gone through a recent renovation.
>
>________________________________
>
>Dr. David S. Hardin
>Assistant Professor of Geography
>Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
>Longwood University
>Farmville, Virginia 23909
>Phone: (434) 395-2581
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
>********************
>"For as Geography without History
>seemeth a carkasse without motion,
>so History without Geography
>wandreth as a Vagrant without a
>certaine habitation."
>John Smith, 1627
>
>
> ---- Original message ----
>
> Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 22:43:45 EDT
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> >You PC historians reap what you sow. You spend
> time teaching this PC
> >history that "celebrates" such nonsense in
> American History such as Harriet Tubman,
> >Cinco De Mayo and Kwanzaa, and then are upset
> when Americans can't recite
> >the reasons behind the Fourth of July or
> Declaration of Independence.
> >
> >How about that human "global warming".
> >
> >J South
> >
> >
> >
> >************************************** See what's
> free at http://www.aol.com.
|