Scholarly Debate
Sunny MoodFinal forum: How Should Scholars Debate?
As you begin preparing the last paper, consider the ways that scholars of history debate an issue. Take a side in the different views offered by Bismark and Wilde. Their quotes are featured on the first page of the Course Guide. Explain which side you think is best (perhaps why the other is less true), and offer an example.
"History is simply a piece of paper covered with print; the main thing is still to make history, not to write it"
OTTO VON BISMARCK
"Any fool can make history, but it takes a genius to write it."
OSCAR WILDE
Quoted from the Discussion Board at CSUDH's HUX site, written by Dr. R. Iset Anuakan.
My take:
"I tend to think along the lines of Bismarck, especially as to whether or not I myself will ever make a difference in the sea of humanity. Likely not, in the grand scheme of things, but in my family's history, I already have. First male to graduate High School. First male to graduate with a Bachelor's degree, ONLY male to ever attempt a Masters... Couple of firsts in the family tree already.
But who will write that down after I'm gone, and will it be worthy of history? Not to anyone other than my family, and likely not to anyone beyond my son. However, while I may not make an impact outside of my family (at least, not yet), the impact within my family will, hopefully, be tremendous. I plan on my education to be that which my son and his children follow, which will change the history of my family altogether, I should think. And if that doesn't work - the apple CAN fall far from the tree - wait until I'm a professor and we'll see! Then I'll have the ability to impact MANY people every semester!
Ultimately however, if no one is there to write what happened (Wilde), what difference does it make if you made the history (Bismarck)? Will I be remembered by my own family for my firsts once I'm one or two generations gone? I don't know. But if no one thinks to make note of it, will my firsts still make an impact?
If I do, will it matter if no one remembers the first Herring male who ever went to school if my family name is someday one of those ranked with Gates, or Ford, or some other philanthropic organization?"
What's yours? Any thoughts?
Friends!
Devious Comments
It ingrains itself in our culture. Even if we don't know about it. A form of Oral History that becomes legend.
A good example I like to use is "Death Race 2000". Almost every driver in North America knows that hitting old people is worth more points.
Very few have even seen the movie where this has come from, they haven't "Read the history" so to speak. Yet there it is, words immortalized.
I doubt a College Professor would be happy with that example, but it works very well with laymen, who I have to deal with on a far more common occurance.
And it's part of my Tech Support Nature shining through.
*falls out of his chair*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
If only I could USE that!!!
*rolls on floor*
Seriously. I almost died.
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>My Deviant Art page
Wilde points out that while me, drunk, tripping and falling on a bomb and causing it to go off and starting WWIII--it takes a genius, a man of true intellect, to piece together the moments that really matter and form a true narrative history that does justice to all parties. Like all people who don't understand the importance of history to the current record (*coughgeorgebushcough*) like Otto von Bismarck and others, they overlook that being written in history isn't the most important thing. Most individuals will die without leaving a speck of a trace beyond their immediate family--but a person who writes history changes how entire generations think about a problem, a situation, a worldview.
If it's true that the victors write the histories, than the historian is far more powerful than the person making the history, because without proper reporting, there can be no historical record.
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"To write is human. To edit is divine." - Stephen King
Simply because you have to have experience to write. Pulling things out of your ass can only carry you so far before it sounds far fetched.
Unless you were there WITNESSING history then it won't be as good on paper hearing it from word of mouth.
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