History is not there for you to like or dislike.

[kpete]

[Kid Berwyn]

1. "Who controls the past, controls the future."

“Who controls the present, controls the past.”

— 1984, by George Orwell

Winston Smith worked at MiniTrue in order to make sure everything in the record matched up with what Big Brother wanted.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

3. Orwell intended this quote as a scathing critique of totalitarianism.

Unfortunately some people see it as "aspirational."

[Kid Berwyn]

9. Did you read the book?

The point is that facts don’t matter; the Party determined what truth is.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

10. Yes, 1984 is the one book I read so many times when I was in Junior High that I practically

had the work memorized.

I think you missed the point. Orwell is not trying to inspire totalitarian thinking, but to warn of its utter toxicity.

[Kid Berwyn]

11. No, you invented a distraction.

What you wrote:

Orwell intended this quote as a scathing critique of totalitarianism.

Unfortunately some people see it as "aspirational."

Nothing there about my point — history as truth, or the OP’s — history as reality.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

12. Not a bit. You seem to have missed the message of the entire work.

A society run by Big Brother is not something to aspire to, but to fight against with all one's might.

[Kid Berwyn]

13. So why didn't you write that to begin with?

Divisive posts. Time waster, too.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

14. Huh? Go back and read my post.

Then tell us who is wasting time here.

Good grief.

[wnylib]

17. I understood perfectly what his post said.

I have come across that comment in other places, too, and I see nothing distracting in it. The post was merely pointing out the sad irony of today's politics, that Orwell opposed totalitarianism, but some politicians and their followers today act as if Orwell's book was a blueprint to follow instead of a frightening tale to avoid.

Many people expressed that sentiment often during the Bush Jr years.

[Kid Berwyn]

20. Normally, I'd agree with you.

In that reply, “some people” rubbed me the wrong way.

History.

[intheflow]

2. Another meme along these same lines:

[kpete]

22. xlnt

thanks intheflow
peace,
kp

[old as dirt]

4. Invisibles - Las guerrillas del Pata

Last edited Mon Feb 6, 2023, 03:32 AM - Edit history (3)

(Audio-generated closed captions translated into the language of your choice.)

Vivimos del Mate: Voces y testimonios de mujeres afropatianas (page 60)

https://www.amazon.com/Vivimos-del-mate-testimonios-afropatianas/dp/9587321979

Sur Real - Las cortamate (Capítulo completo)

(Audio-generated closed captions in the language of your choice.)

Cantaoras Del Pata - Las Cortamate

[fightforfreedom]

5. I have always called history, The Great Teacher.

[treestar]

6. What is the point of being offended?

The shit happened. As long as there is some way to be sure it did happen.

OTOH some go way too far to make the US out as the worst country ever. World history exists too, however. Not just US history. Maybe learn that the US has its positive side, too.

[Caliman73]

21. Accurate history often interferes with the mythology people are taught...

to inspire nationalism. History is seen differently depending on the side you were on. In American mythology, "Custer's Last Stand" is seen as a tragic mistake and ending to a promising military career. To the Lakota, it was a blunder made by the men who had been going up and down Lakota territory, massacring their people. Which one is the accurate history?

I don't think that the US is any more or less "bad" than other countries. What irritates me is that our mythology tells us we are BETTER than any other country, and a lot of people fall for that. That American Exceptionalism blinds us to our real history and has created a lot of problems. It keeps us from focusing on real problems like racism, sexism, and wealth inequality.

[treestar]

23. every country thinks it is better

that doesn't mean it is nationalism to think well of it. Things in the past happened at a time when there was less knowledge, more violence, and more injustice. This country has done pretty well at growing and changing and progressing. It can still do more, but it is more likely this country will do it than many another country.

[Caliman73]

24. Other countries treat their citizens way better .... already.

The US is good at some things and bad at others.

We rank middle to pretty low when compared to other countries with similar levels of technological advancement, in areas of happiness and satisfaction. Being better than Nicaragua doesn't cut it.

Certainly we have progressed and among other countries we are still a "youngster" but because we have been the richest and militarily most powerful country for the last century, there has been a lot of belief that our place in the world has been nothing but virtuous.

Realism doesn't mean hatred, it just means you can recognize the good, but focus on the work that needs to be done to reach the ideals that were set out.

[multigraincracker]

7. Good and evil are the two sides of the same coin.

They arise together. Without one, there would not be the other.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it

Link to tweet

[HardPort]

15. The one thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history -- Hegel

Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do study history are doomed to stand around helplessly while everyone else repeats it.

[Uncle Joe]

16. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread kpete

[Historic NY]

18. I always say history and family history all have the good, the bad and the ugly

its pretty hard to argue against the facts,

[KS Toronado]

19. History is just plain old FACTS

not alternate facts like reQubs preach.