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.
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