2 of 12

No

Write now Article Tools

When someone says "History is our true teacher," what exactly does he mean? It seems a good axiom, but under closer scrutiny, it's a glib phrase that really means, "I don't want to have to closely examine current events."

History cannot be our teacher because it is too fluid. It's often said that the winners write the history books, but even the winners' opinions on the past change. To Americans in the 1950s the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nation-saving events that meant thousands of Allied soldiers didn't have to die storming Japanese beaches. Now, many Americans question whether an attack on civilian populations was moral or even legal under international law. If history is our teacher, which version does it teach?

Likewise, taking history as our teacher can lead to strained, untrue, but popular analogies. The war in Iraq is often compared to the Vietnam War, but many military officers point out that there are major differences which make a comparison faulty. Right or wrong, Iraq is not Vietnam, but those who oppose it loudly proclaim that it's the same, rather than articulating other, perfectly valid (and often more compelling) reasons for their opposition.

The last, and perhaps strongest, reason that history cannot be our teacher is because it has no voice of its own. History can be twisted in the mouths of dictators, tyrants, and other very scary people to suit their own ends. Hitler did it. So did Stalin. Terrorists are doing it right now. History cannot cry out against their hate-mongering and so it is made to serve them.

Responsible citizens of every nation should learn history and see how it has shaped our world, but they must look around themselves as well. What is happening now-to us-in our world and time is far too important to simply analogize to the past and hope for a better outcome.

Learn more about this author, Carolyn Brown.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Is history really our teacher??
We want to hear your view. Write now!