http://billofrightsinstitute.org/blog/2011/08/24/failing-liberty/ Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:15:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://billofrightsinstitute.org/blog/2011/08/24/failing-liberty/#comment-1099 Jason Ross Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:41:51 +0000 http://blog.billofrightsinstitute.org/?p=1728#comment-1099 Dustin, I don't disagree with anything you said. But your objection works better against Zinn than it does against his critics. Zinn teaches U.S. history only in a negative light. It is a thoroughly depressing account of our history - and one that utterly fails to explain why millions of "common men" have left tyrannical regimes to seek freedom and opportunity here. Dustin, I don’t disagree with anything you said. But your objection works better against Zinn than it does against his critics. Zinn teaches U.S. history only in a negative light. It is a thoroughly depressing account of our history – and one that utterly fails to explain why millions of “common men” have left tyrannical regimes to seek freedom and opportunity here.

]]> http://billofrightsinstitute.org/blog/2011/08/24/failing-liberty/#comment-1098 Norman Constantine Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:19:04 +0000 http://blog.billofrightsinstitute.org/?p=1728#comment-1098 Have we forgotten The Boston Tea Party? Shays rebellion? The Whiskey Rebellion? Slave Riots? Haymarket Square ? The Railroad Strikes? Watch what you wish for. Have we forgotten The Boston Tea Party? Shays rebellion? The Whiskey Rebellion? Slave Riots? Haymarket Square ? The Railroad Strikes? Watch what you wish for.

]]> http://billofrightsinstitute.org/blog/2011/08/24/failing-liberty/#comment-1097 Dustin Gurley Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:22:27 +0000 http://blog.billofrightsinstitute.org/?p=1728#comment-1097 I think that it is of the upmost importance for the youth of today to develop a sense of community and civic responsibility. However, citing Zinn as a historian that fosters pessimism in young people is unfair. Zinn presented history from perspective of the common man, and was not afraid to highlight the mistakes and motivations of people in power. An effective teacher can explain history objectively and use major events such as slavery, Native American removal, and Vietnam as a tool for change and awareness. A citizen with an understanding of history and government can be productive member of society, a voter, a person of civic responsibility. Teaching history in an only positive light, doesn’t make students productive citizens, it makes them ignorant and ethnocentric. I think that it is of the upmost importance for the youth of today to develop a sense of community and civic responsibility. However, citing Zinn as a historian that fosters pessimism in young people is unfair. Zinn presented history from perspective of the common man, and was not afraid to highlight the mistakes and motivations of people in power. An effective teacher can explain history objectively and use major events such as slavery, Native American removal, and Vietnam as a tool for change and awareness. A citizen with an understanding of history and government can be productive member of society, a voter, a person of civic responsibility. Teaching history in an only positive light, doesn’t make students productive citizens, it makes them ignorant and ethnocentric.

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