Monday, May 2, 2011

Dear Paige,

Dear Paige,

I was born in Renton, Washington. Even after I am dead two thousand years, the fact never changes: I was born in Renton, Washington. If someone were to tell you I was born in Kansas, you would simply need to check my birth certificate to discover the truth that I was in fact born in Renton, Washington.
            So you’re probably wondering, what this has to do with history, but let me explain. History has to at least sometimes be accurate because people have lived and people have recorded it. If I write in my journal “4:16 PM on Monday, May 2, 2011 I am typing on my computer.” That is a fact! Regardless of what others say that fact never changes. Yes, it is true people have different perspectives, such as, witnesses dealing with a car accident. But there is an absolute truth and often times different pieces of different people’s story fit together in order to make the most complete truth. This is not to show that history is inaccurate, but rather that you must check your sources and research information.
            Do you believe the Holocaust took place? That most certainly was not only recorded by “the winners.” But if you compare many different people’s stories and talk to witnesses and view photographs it is extremely evident it did in fact occur—both from interviews with Nazis as well as Jews.
            It can be hard to always believe what happened in the past since we cannot directly talk to people, but comparing documents and researching discoveries, the truth is going to prevail. Look at the Bible. Four different men with very different occupations recorded the life of Christ: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Though each of their ways of describing things is different, the facts all match up! How can you possibly deny four eye witnesses accounts? In our courts, it sometimes only takes one eye witness account to charge a person as guilty! Also in the Bible, Daniel, who was taken captive and his country overtaken by Babylon wrote historical happenings. He was by no means a winner, yet a lot of information from that book has been confirmed with archaeological findings, such as, the confirmation of kings in existence he spoke of. Does this not prove his authenticity?
            While people’s biases are going to sometimes color history, the facts remain. Who won the war? Who was born when? Facts such as these cannot be “interpreted.” If you are genuinely concerned with what you’re being taught, do research! Look into archaeological discoveries, biographies, autobiographies, figure out if what you’re reading from is a reliable source. Before I read a book, I after do background on the author to discover what point of view he is coming from, and you can do the same. At least I know historically wise, the Bible has never been proven inaccurate, so that is a GREAT reliable historically accurate text, you can compare things to. Now good luck studying for your history final! Remember, the grade you get is the grade you get—it does not change from what your teacher gives you, no matter how much you want it to. Your grade is a fact, like much of history.

Love,
Christina