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Sep 18, 2008 5:58:26 PM
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When I was in third grade, the principal made an appearance in our class. The only comment I remember him making was that we learn history in order to not repeat our mistakes. At the time, it made little impression on me, and I doubt I even understood his remarks. However, I have come to realize the importance of knowing history.
The world has been changed most dramatically through religion, armed conflict, and economic change. In my opinion, if the average man were to have a better understanding of the history revolving around these issues, there would be fewer negative changes going forward. But to gain a better understanding, one must read at least two perspectives and hopefully three. As with most stories, there are multiple versions. With history, read the opinions of the invaders, the invaded, and third parties. Religion is the same. Read the popular religious texts such as the Bible and the Koran. Read what the Christians say about the Koran and what the Muslims say about the Bible. Then read scholarly accounts of the history of both. On economics, read Smith, Keynes, and Friedman as well as the great economic events in history such as the banking system implemented by the Knights Templar, Tulip bubble in the 1600s, the Japanese real estate bubble of the 1980s and the US real estate bubble 20 years later.
To make a positive change in our world, one must understand our history in order to replicate our successes and avoid repeating our failures.
by ebachan
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