Post by houstoncat on Jul 10, 2020 14:36:20 GMT -5
I'm a bit of an American History buff primarily before the 20th century and mainly because of the struggle to create the nation and how as a nation we began to develop our national persona. Some of its bad, some of it mostly good but it all history and it all should be studied and we should all get reacquainted with our founding ideas. This is difficult because current history is taught much differently then when I was in grade, high school and college. Back in the 60's most school systems taught American history in 5th, 7th, and 11th grades. Then the norm was you took US history (at UK two base courses one prior to 1877 and one after) as an elective and probably as a freshman. I started really restudying and rereading about two years ago because there was so much I had forgotten and so many new perspectives were being published. I made a habit of keeping my text but my us history books from UK I evidently got rid of. History American history by then to me was pretty old hat and an easy A with minimal theme work and no need to go to classes.
The text we used and I can't remember the author or name (circa 1970-71) was a bit of a baseline so I really needed to try and restablish those roots to compare some of the new stuff being taught. That's daunting because the way history is presented is so biased to the leanings of the author you get very shaded views in all ranges of the spectrum. I did and bit of research and found a few books that are good reads but all from different perspectives on the founding
The first I have been delving into (1 hour each Monday) is "American History" by Thomas Kidd A good read told from a religious perspective and its impact on the development of the nation (Kidd is a professor at Baylor and Baptist)
ON Tuesday's I dive into one hour of something much different "A Peoples History of the US" by Howard Zinc this one also a great read and a very different perspective from not a political or governmental , religious POV but from the people that all of the chaos of a new country encompassed. Handed down accounts of the earliest colonist all the way to 2005 or so. This one is a real ass kicker and will make you think whether you agree or not.
The third "A patriots history of the United States" by Larry Schweikar and Michael Allen, a bit closer maybe to what those my age may have been taught. Goes to the War on Terror, that's Wednesday
The next one to me may be the most interesting, "An Indegenous Peoples' History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz concentrates on our Native American Heritage's point of view.
The Federalist Papers (.99 on line) not easy to read it shouldn't be those were brilliant men with a very clear eye to liberty and how to implement it to be timeless.
The different perspectives will help you understand the idiocy of today and how little people know about a wonderful if very flawed American Heritage.
Pick one and read guys, different pov you can actually see why this nation is as it is why most of us value freedom so much, why there are always dissidents (one thing throughout people always want something for nothing. So much is misunderstood on why things happen and develop why as a people are like we are.
You have to look at each stage of country to evaluate the mores and values of the time, the only thing constant is some event that coalesces everyone in the country to act and advance. Wars, human rights, health and unending effort to grow. There are peoples that have been grossly wronged there have been attempts to correct those wrongs often at the expense of stepping on others that were never at fault.
Anyway just a suggestion to keep your neurons percolating and since you can't very well go out and about and lounging by the pool can get old try one or all. I really do recommend the Federalist Papers (get copy of constitution to reference and "An indigenous People's History of the United States.
Oh and read undaunted courage about Lewis and Clark you will learn much and wont be able to put it down. Hard to believe men were so tough, very different folk from us and one reason why you cant' compare the "hardships and gripes" of today to then.
The text we used and I can't remember the author or name (circa 1970-71) was a bit of a baseline so I really needed to try and restablish those roots to compare some of the new stuff being taught. That's daunting because the way history is presented is so biased to the leanings of the author you get very shaded views in all ranges of the spectrum. I did and bit of research and found a few books that are good reads but all from different perspectives on the founding
The first I have been delving into (1 hour each Monday) is "American History" by Thomas Kidd A good read told from a religious perspective and its impact on the development of the nation (Kidd is a professor at Baylor and Baptist)
ON Tuesday's I dive into one hour of something much different "A Peoples History of the US" by Howard Zinc this one also a great read and a very different perspective from not a political or governmental , religious POV but from the people that all of the chaos of a new country encompassed. Handed down accounts of the earliest colonist all the way to 2005 or so. This one is a real ass kicker and will make you think whether you agree or not.
The third "A patriots history of the United States" by Larry Schweikar and Michael Allen, a bit closer maybe to what those my age may have been taught. Goes to the War on Terror, that's Wednesday
The next one to me may be the most interesting, "An Indegenous Peoples' History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz concentrates on our Native American Heritage's point of view.
The Federalist Papers (.99 on line) not easy to read it shouldn't be those were brilliant men with a very clear eye to liberty and how to implement it to be timeless.
The different perspectives will help you understand the idiocy of today and how little people know about a wonderful if very flawed American Heritage.
Pick one and read guys, different pov you can actually see why this nation is as it is why most of us value freedom so much, why there are always dissidents (one thing throughout people always want something for nothing. So much is misunderstood on why things happen and develop why as a people are like we are.
You have to look at each stage of country to evaluate the mores and values of the time, the only thing constant is some event that coalesces everyone in the country to act and advance. Wars, human rights, health and unending effort to grow. There are peoples that have been grossly wronged there have been attempts to correct those wrongs often at the expense of stepping on others that were never at fault.
Anyway just a suggestion to keep your neurons percolating and since you can't very well go out and about and lounging by the pool can get old try one or all. I really do recommend the Federalist Papers (get copy of constitution to reference and "An indigenous People's History of the United States.
Oh and read undaunted courage about Lewis and Clark you will learn much and wont be able to put it down. Hard to believe men were so tough, very different folk from us and one reason why you cant' compare the "hardships and gripes" of today to then.