I agree with you. A knowledge of history is important. It should be taught in a non biased way, encouraging the student to think critically, to consider all pros / cons / influences. History is a much undervalued subject.
It seems that those who tend to set the agenda and parameters of public discourse (politicians, universities, public institutions, museums, charities and much of the media) have all been captured by the latest ‘progressive’ ideologies. These people are driven by a high degree of loathing of the history and culture of their own Western societies. I agree that this does seem a particular problem in the Anglosphere, with a relentless focus on the evils of colonialism, empire and slavery (as if these things only ever happened in the West) but with no regard for the enormous advances made by Western societies that produced the comfortable world that these critics benefit from.
The question is, once these ideologies have taken over all the influential parts of society, what practical steps can we take to turn things round?
Most overestimate the extent to which you ‘can’t talk about these things anymore’. The vast majority of people do not agree with the ideology you mention, yet stay silent because they falsely believe themselves to be in a minority.
I agree with you. A knowledge of history is important. It should be taught in a non biased way, encouraging the student to think critically, to consider all pros / cons / influences. History is a much undervalued subject.
It seems that those who tend to set the agenda and parameters of public discourse (politicians, universities, public institutions, museums, charities and much of the media) have all been captured by the latest ‘progressive’ ideologies. These people are driven by a high degree of loathing of the history and culture of their own Western societies. I agree that this does seem a particular problem in the Anglosphere, with a relentless focus on the evils of colonialism, empire and slavery (as if these things only ever happened in the West) but with no regard for the enormous advances made by Western societies that produced the comfortable world that these critics benefit from.
The question is, once these ideologies have taken over all the influential parts of society, what practical steps can we take to turn things round?
Most overestimate the extent to which you ‘can’t talk about these things anymore’. The vast majority of people do not agree with the ideology you mention, yet stay silent because they falsely believe themselves to be in a minority.