May 18, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
'By understanding that any culture is capable of both good and evil, by removing the simplistic “good guys versus bad guys” framework from most of history, we can understand our failings as failings common to our species.' No one could say it any better. Thank you.
May 18, 2022·edited May 18, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
"We can do much better." And we should, as neither side represents the weary majority who are ready for the bullying "my way or the highway" approach to end.
May 19, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
Getting beyond the binary of oppressed and oppressor would be a good place to start in reading history. Of course, good and evil coexist, but any history that depends on that binary is doomed to fail to provide an accurate summary of where we came from and where we might go.
May 18, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
To me, this is exactly right. Besides being inaccurate, simplistic, and inflammatory, the good guy - bad guy framing of history is exceedingly patronizing.
May 18, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
This is so necessary. Figures I grew up being told were heroes, like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, are now being recast as villains as if real life were a movie based on a comic book. People and cultures are never purely good or evil. Anyone older than six should be able to process this.
May 18, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
I have found an easy shortcut to deal with this phenomenon, and it often works. Acceptance beats understanding. I don't need to understand your feelings, your background, your culture; it is far more important that I accept that it is yours and it is real, at least to you. No.w we have a non-confrontational framework in which to educate one another.
Nearly 30 years ago, I had occasion to spend significant time in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. I found in both nations that Americans and locals operated from a basis of stereotypes, when reality was far more nuanced.
May 18, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful essay, which strikes such a balanced tone, not only on the subject matter of the book itself, but also on the CRT debate and other debates over history that are taking place right now. Those of us who believe in the importance of understanding history in this balanced, thoughtful way need to encourage each other right now, and your essay does just that. Thank you so much for saying something that is so very basic, and unfortunately so rarely said these days, and accordingly so desperately needed.....
May 20, 2022Liked by Christopher J Ferguson, Ph.D.
This is a great article--thank you. I've read many histories of Hawaii, and one thing that's clear is that many, many natives were eager to become part of the USA. Not all, certainly, but those eager voices are often lost.
'By understanding that any culture is capable of both good and evil, by removing the simplistic “good guys versus bad guys” framework from most of history, we can understand our failings as failings common to our species.' No one could say it any better. Thank you.
"We can do much better." And we should, as neither side represents the weary majority who are ready for the bullying "my way or the highway" approach to end.
Getting beyond the binary of oppressed and oppressor would be a good place to start in reading history. Of course, good and evil coexist, but any history that depends on that binary is doomed to fail to provide an accurate summary of where we came from and where we might go.
To me, this is exactly right. Besides being inaccurate, simplistic, and inflammatory, the good guy - bad guy framing of history is exceedingly patronizing.
This is so necessary. Figures I grew up being told were heroes, like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, are now being recast as villains as if real life were a movie based on a comic book. People and cultures are never purely good or evil. Anyone older than six should be able to process this.
I have found an easy shortcut to deal with this phenomenon, and it often works. Acceptance beats understanding. I don't need to understand your feelings, your background, your culture; it is far more important that I accept that it is yours and it is real, at least to you. No.w we have a non-confrontational framework in which to educate one another.
Nearly 30 years ago, I had occasion to spend significant time in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. I found in both nations that Americans and locals operated from a basis of stereotypes, when reality was far more nuanced.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful essay, which strikes such a balanced tone, not only on the subject matter of the book itself, but also on the CRT debate and other debates over history that are taking place right now. Those of us who believe in the importance of understanding history in this balanced, thoughtful way need to encourage each other right now, and your essay does just that. Thank you so much for saying something that is so very basic, and unfortunately so rarely said these days, and accordingly so desperately needed.....
Thank you Dr F. When it comes to history the entire "story" should be told. More is better.
This is a great article--thank you. I've read many histories of Hawaii, and one thing that's clear is that many, many natives were eager to become part of the USA. Not all, certainly, but those eager voices are often lost.