tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477344599282458158.post1005345215176911150..comments2019-11-24T01:24:39.986-04:00Comments on The Historian's Gaze: Thinking PoliticallyJerry Bannisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988619412990582341noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477344599282458158.post-60137841421224393262009-11-16T06:14:39.073-04:002009-11-16T06:14:39.073-04:00Two things come to mind: one professional, one pe...Two things come to mind: one professional, one personal, admittedly both rather selfish: <br /><br />- I'm grateful I've never been tasked with writing a brief, accessible, national history. <br /><br />With the exception of my own hobbyhorse - regional difference - I would, likely, follow the current and the story of the majority. That's the task at hand, for one thing, and a guidebook of this nature does not have the luxury of detail afforded to academic writing. You can't include everything; omissions are inescapable. It becomes a question of priorities. Does the guidebook serve the interests of its intended audience? That should be the litmus test here.<br /><br />-I confess I'm grateful that students' reactions to issues of nationalism and history tends to be "relaxed." Perhaps it's less reassuring in the classroom, when we want such things engaged with and scrutinized, but in a culture of citizenship, I find it a lot more appealing - as you say, Jerry - in the context of international alternatives. <br /><br />As an aside, when I worked at U of Alberta, I was considered by the other Canadianists a leftie/hippie type, because I taught cultural & environmental (ie. not political/national survey) history. When I came to Dal, I felt I was now considered "nationalist" - ie. right-wing - by virtue of teaching Canadian Studies & writing on "national" (Ontario) myths (like the Group of Seven). I was the same person; it's just the audience that changed. <br /><br />Devilishly advocatedly yours,<br />ClaireAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477344599282458158.post-84698288839169737822009-11-15T14:11:30.103-04:002009-11-15T14:11:30.103-04:00I think part of this relates to what Dr. Bannister...I think part of this relates to what Dr. Bannister said last week about <i>commission</i> and <i>omission</i>. It's fairly obvious that the new citizenship guidebook depicts a specific, politically-motivated narrative of Canadian history. In so doing, it omits alternate narratives.<br />However, I think it's important to note that everyone still has access to these alternate narratives and the archives themselves. This isn't "historical ignorance" being enforced by the government (in Canada, at least). If people <i>want</i> a more complete Canadian history, they can find it. I'm just not sure they care enough to do so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477344599282458158.post-25643384212938316532009-11-14T23:44:56.708-04:002009-11-14T23:44:56.708-04:00I'm always fascinated by what's considered...I'm always fascinated by what's considered important enough to put in these histories. (There is, I suspect, no mention of Canada's horrible history of forced sterilizations.)<br /><br />I believe all history is political. I think the problems come in when people pretend it isn't.Joannahttp://trouble.dreamwidth.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477344599282458158.post-1969558799690385012009-11-14T18:55:34.098-04:002009-11-14T18:55:34.098-04:00Language is political in any form. This distinctio...Language is political in any form. This distinction between history and heritage is political in the way it tries to distance the practice of history from the lamented subjectivity of politics. I heard similar objections to the one Angela's uncle gave when I worked in journalism, but I always saw two sides fighting over interpretation, rather than one imposing a falsehood. Those - real untruths - are rare.<br />Mark LeemingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477344599282458158.post-65305150982165868772009-11-14T17:20:37.078-04:002009-11-14T17:20:37.078-04:00It's goes farther than history and politics - ...It's goes farther than history and politics - it's history, politics and journalism. Journalism is often twisted by incorrect history and even more often twisted by requirements of politics. My uncle, for example, recently retired from the Canadian military. He is outraged when journalists call soldiers who die in action 'victims of war'. He says that cheapens their sacrifice and implies that they were helpless, when in fact they chose to be in the military and knew what they were facing. - Angela -Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com