(gobsmacked)Jul 9, 2023

Missed America: Attacking the right without asking about the left.
by Johann N. Neem

A distressing article that basically "both sides" current discussions about American history, arguing that "the left" is also guilty of distortions about that history.

It begins with a personal anecdote, how after a day teaching about "the Comanche empire" he talks to his son about what he learned in school, and it was about how North America had been an "Edenic paradise before the Europeans arrived."

He then turns to the book he's "reviewing": Collectively, they [the essays in the book] reveal the challenges facing the historical profession—my profession. When it becomes an axiom that truth comes from the left and lies from the right, something is amiss."

It's not a book review, nor a reasoned consideration of the state of history. It's an attack on attempts to correct the distortions and myth making that have played a role in getting us to the present moment.

https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/theological-variations/articles/missed-america

Missed America

When all the bad things America did are true, but none of the good things, something is amiss.

The Hedgehog Review
Show thread(gobsmacked)Jul 9, 2023

It's full of problems, but I don't feel the need to go through them one by one. And I haven't had enough coffee yet. But there are a couple of things to note.

He remarks: "Fortunately, most Americans have a much more nuanced understanding of American history than professional historians." And then backs this up by citing a bunch of poll numbers on Democrat and Republican beliefs on a number of points. He concludes: "In other words, we Americans know that we have much to atone for in our past, but also much to celebrate. Americans understand that we contain multitudes. It should give historians pause when the common sense of ordinary American people shows more appreciation for historical complexity than trained experts."

Seriously? To the extent that there's any real understanding of the negative it is only because of past efforts at historical revision.

Sorry, not able to be coherent or pithy. Just read it.

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You can find an archived copy of it here: https://archive.is/1z1l4

And here's some response to it on Twitter... and some insight into who views this as a valuable contribution

Jul 9, 2023 at 4:19pmWeb