Yesterday (31 May 2018), I was watching the news for South African current affairs.
There is a process underway for the history books to be revised for scholars. Further, history is to become a compulsory subject for all senior school students.
Yesterday’s terrorist under the old regime will become tomorrow’s freedom fighter under the new regime. Make no mistake, the previously recorded historical events were biased or flavoured under the previous Apartheid government. Time changes one’s interpretation of events, particularly when former enemies of the previous government become the new leaders.
This reminds me of the well-known scenario where there is an argument between two people. The one tells the issues and complains of the intransigence of the other party. However, the other party in turn presents a different viewpoint. Each is convinced they have the correct version. Yet regardless of the passions, opinions and perceptions of each party, there is always the ultimate and truthful side of the story, the third viewpoint, the correct viewpoint.
I remember from when I was reading a great deal about the Second World War. I have previously told how I collected a series of documentary magazines in the early 1970’s. When Germany betrayed their ally Russia and invaded them in June 1941. It must be remembered how when Germany invaded Poland, the Russians also invaded from the east. Strangely Britain and France declared war on Germany only. When the German forces started the operation against Russia, they initially had huge successes. The Germans in 1943 uncovered mass graves in the Katyn Woods in Poland. Over 22000 bodies of Polish officers were found, it was trumpeted by the Nazis as a crime committed by the Russians. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! The Germans had already murdered millions of defenceless civilians. Of course the Soviet Communist government denied any involvement. In my war magazines involving this crime, they presented the German view and the Russian view where both sides accused the other of committing the atrocity.
(this photo was in my volumes on WW2)
In 1990 at the fall of the Soviet government, Mikael Gorbachov, admitted responsibility and subsequent cover-ups by successive Communist governments.
But this was just the tip of the iceberg, the Communists in both Russia and China have murdered about a hundred million people. No action will ever be taken against either of these countries as neither has been defeated. Only the crimes of a defeated country are exposed and punished. Even then, so little of the truth can ever be fully revealed. History as recorded in those countries merely glosses over any responsibility they may have.
In the case of Russia, you have the dissident writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who recorded the development of the police state and the situation in the penal camps of the Soviet Union, Gulag Archipelago, in three major volumes. He was regarded as a great hero in the West until he started criticising them too! I do regard him as one of the great truth tellers. If the man is unpopular, then he must be being honest. If a man has faults but yet he strives for integrity, then he is a hero in my opinion.
In general, recorded history must be comfortable for those in power. The unpalatable and the uncomfortable is not desired for general public consumption.
Where there is conflict, military conflict in particular, information needs to be moulded for suitable public consumption. Morale must be positive amongst the civilians back home or the war effort may desist, particularly in democracies. It is fine to kill the enemy but don’t let the enemy kill you! It could make people back home disillusioned and not keen to join the army.
The advent of social media is a powerful weapon, ordinary people can record events and put them on line. For example, in Israel, many events are recorded and displayed. There is no balance of view, if you don’t want to show “your side” committing crimes then you don’t record it. If your enemies are doing something wrong, then you can show that rather. We see the "whistle blowers" who are vilified for exposing the crimes of their own governments.
We are living in an age of relativism.
What does such a word mean?
I looked around on the internet to confirm my understanding and found the following in Wikipedia:
Relativism is the idea that views are relative to differences in perception and consideration. There is no universal, objective truth according to relativism; rather each point of view has its own truth.
The major categories of relativism vary in their degree of scope and controversy. Moral relativism encompasses the differences in moral judgments among people and cultures. Truth relativism is the doctrine that there are no absolute truths, i.e., that truth is always relative to some particular frame of reference, such as a language or a culture (cultural relativism). Descriptive relativism, as the name implies, seeks to describe the differences among cultures and people without evaluation, while normative relativism evaluates the morality or truthfulness of views within a given framework.
As much as such a definition may rankle with my religious background where absolute truths are accepted, the idea of relativism has a great deal of merit. Anything of a mortal or earthly nature and mortal understanding will always be relative. I do believe in the eternal nature of things and that truth is an absolute concept but within our framework as imperfect creatures, relativism is relevant.
So back to my viewing of the news item of “changing history”. We can’t ever change history. We can only change our interpretation of it. The current government believes that this change is necessary to improve the morale and self-esteem of the previously disadvantaged. Not a bad idea but often such ideas must come at the expense of others who are former enemies. Am I being patronising when I say that discernment of the public here in South Africa is lacking?
I am quite able to watch Russian news, Chinese news, French news, German news, British news and even American news without being over-influenced by them. I look and think. History has taught me so much. Of course I also use the Bible as a reference point. I “fit” the information into my understanding. Isn’t it tricky though? Bias is always there for me to contend with. I have to keep checking myself to see that I am being “fair”. Can I put myself in the boots of another person? Can I remember their past? Do I realise their pain and anger? Do I realise their joy? Their commitments?
History is made out of current events becoming past events. There is so much information, so many conflicting voices that continually bombard us.
How good are your filters and lenses? Do you see the REAL picture? Do you hear the REAL story?
Thank you for message . History can not be altered, and no matter how it is interpreted. The example of Ukraine, it completely rewrites history textbooks, and inspires one generation of lies to the future generation.
Fine arguments, my friend and history are certainly multifaceted and I think that it is not permissible to change history for certain purposes, it is only necessary to accept it as it is. Thank you @fred703
Yeah...Relativism is the idea that views are relative to differences in perception and consideration. There is no universal, objective truth according to relativism; rather each point of view has its own truth.I like this..Thanks for sharing #fred703
love the cartoon picture
This is very amazing article Sir, you shared the history of those personalties, is really appericiatable 😇
History is a funny thing. There are usually two versions (sometimes more),
and the truth can usually be found somewhere in the middle.
The thing is, just because people have different accounts of historical
events, does not mean that either person is wrong, and you are correct
in saying that "We can’t ever change history. We can only change our interpretation of it."
We should not rewrite history for the sake of people's feelings.
We need to accept the history as it is, from all sides of it.
We cannot simply bury what we do not like about past events.
We need to remember the painful lessons so we do not repeat them.
Failure is the greatest teacher of all, and we must learn from the
failings of our fathers and their fathers before them.
We should not bury history, we must learn from it,
because failing to learn from it puts us at risk for
repeating the same mistakes.
profound thoughts, thank you
Well Presented. Everyone is the Hero in their own story / or the hard done by one.
Beautiful history, I like it. Thanks, @fred703
Yeah,,I appreciate with you,,,We can't change the History..We just change our interpretation of it,,That's the awesome content..I like it..Thanks for sharing
very interesting post. wonderful story. thanks for @fred703
Where there is conflict, military conflict in particular, information needs to be module for suitable public consumption.This is a good article,,Thanks for sharing..
@upvoted
Aleksandr, I must read his books again.
That's cool..So interesting..@fred703
Yeah,,Alexander!!
Nice book too..
that is damn true..
Thank you my dear friend for sharing with us.Really you doing very good job
Nice story!!!!We are living in an age of relativism.That's right..If we think it by deep mind,we will understand all things
That's a good work,,
Nice article..
Thanks for sharing,,
Valuable knowledge on history..
That's awesome article and nice history..@fred703
Thanks for sharing
He wrote always awesome articles. thanks for compliments.
That's a nice book history,,I also read it,,The history on every parts of social life is described by this,,
Valuable for IQ!!!!
@fred703
Thanks for sharing,,
when former enemies of the previous government become the new leaders.
this is what happening all around the world.
Nice history! i read some of about Aleksandr, this is an awesome writer.
wonderfully explained.
Curated for #informationwar (by @openparadigm)
Relevance: Discussion of perspectives of truth
Our Purpose
Its really correct, history is always written by the winners but the factual things may also open and that move or transfer from person to person. Good, valuable and knowledge able blog.
Nice article. Too often people rush to judge before considering that there might be viewpoints other than their own. I find this to be especially true in South Africa.
@originalwork
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The history is so interesting. I like it .you are working very hard.