History in a New Perspective

History in a New Perspective
Howard Zinn. Read his work. He opened my eyes to see the worth of history, how we can understand the present through history, to re-examine how our history textbook could be manipulated by the power. He impressed me with his eloquence in his persuasion. Certainly a role model for any student in rhetorics, speechwriting and communication.

Just as Anne-Frank has started me on journal writing, Howard inspired me to look at history in a new light, through the eyes of unseem people. I did not know the truth about Christopher Columbus until I read his essay. And I asked myself, why was this not told? Why was the truth hidden for so long? Is there any other that we not not been told?

Yea. In Japan, I don't think the people were told the truth about the Rape of Nanking by Japanese soldiers.
In North Korea, the people has no access to the outside world. So the leader has become their 'father'.

I was reading the book "Singapore - The Air-Conditioned Nation", a book about the politics of Singapore, by Cherian George. I realised that any arm chair critic would risk giving a distorted and incomplete comments if they do not have intimate first hand exposure to the issue.

It would be easy for anyone to criticise from a distance. But it does no favour to the reader if they don't make the effort to see the issue from the other perspective. Like the Indians say: "Wear the other person's shoes and walk the mile with him, before you criticise".