Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Topic: A Statement on Writing History.



10-second review: Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. on the purpose of [writing] history.

Title: “Israeli Encounters: Books for Teens about Israel.” LR Silver. English Journal (July 2010), 21-23.

Quote: “They [the books reviewed in this article] promote the historical understanding that Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. referred to when he wrote: ‘The purpose of history is to promote not group self-esteem, but understanding of the world and the past…judgment and perspective, respect for divergent cultures and tradition, and unflinching  protection for those unifying ideas of tolerance, democracy and human rights that make free historical inquiry possible.’ ”

Comment: “…unflinching ;protection for those unifying ideas of tolerance, democracy and human rights that make historical inquiry possible.” That last statement, in my opinion, is most significant. RayS.

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