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.