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Thursday, July 9, 2009 12:00 AM

History is bunk after all

Much of what we're taught has been twisted to suit someone's needs

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  • Wednesday, July 8, 2009 09:24 PM

    sometimes it's easy to know the truth.

    when the man who was reputed to have written 'all men are created equal' was in fact a slave holder, you can make an educated guess at how deep his conviction was, and even surmise he was lying for personal advantage.

    when the framers of the constitution, in their private correspondence, relate the measures they are taking to keep 'the mob' from power in the new nation, you can reasonably guess at their opinion of democracy, which they openly denigrate as likely to discommode the wealthy.

    the whole history of the usa since replacing spain as hegemon of america has been naked imperialism in reality, very thinly clothed in charming phrases. the truth is there, not deeply hidden. but americans don't look, for the history they are taught has an underlying purpose of curing them of curiousity. for them, this is the best of all possible worlds. best of all, it needs no effort on their part- their humble servants are assiduous in doing all for them.

    reality will intrude, with ever larger intrusions, as the wealth of america is bled off by the elite, and with it the industrial and military power that has insulated the local version of the emperor's clothes.

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