Hello everyone. In this short reading, something that continued to occur was prejudice and killings and somewhat genocide. It occurred to me that throughout this section one idea constantly crossed my mind: history will repeat itself until humanity can learn from their mistakes. It made me think of the quote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” from George Santayana, a Spanish philosopher.
Throughout Aronson’s whole book, you can see history repeating itself. The most prominent example is the hatred and prejudice towards Jews. In the early chapters, Aronson talks about how in Roman society Jews were thought of as evil or people needed to be purged. This belief seemed to die down as time continued and Judaism became popular. However, in the 1940s the Holocaust occurred. Adolf Hitler killed millions of Jews, spreading his hatred for them. As many history books claim that many were appalled by the mass killings, some supported it willingly. They saw it as a true purge on a scar across humanity. Hitler’s Christian view that Jews should be killed was not a popular belief, but others shared the sentiment whether it was because they too felt the same way or they were made to. For now, hatred towards Jews is nonexistent, or rather it is mute to the common person. However, as history always will, the hatred and prejudice towards Jews will most likely return. Humanity can't keep its hands from being burnt even after it has touched the fire twice before.
Along with the theme of history repeating itself, it brought the reader's attention to the Holocaust. It made me think of the many other genocides there have been of different types of people based on eugenics or social connections. The trend of history repeating itself speaks for itself as one of the leading genocide movements is called "Never Again", although somehow there is always an again. This can be seen as there has been a genocide before the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, and many after such as the Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur genocides. This is just another example of how history repeats itself and how humanity will never learn from its mistakes.
The amount of information that supports the idea that history repeats itself makes me want to say that is Aronson's second argument. However, while it may be an argument, it is not something Aronson crafted for the book. History itself represents repetition, arrogance, and stupidity. Aronson did not consciously make history repeating itself an argument because it is clear it does. No matter which history book you look at, from any country or region or language, you will see repetition. It makes you wonder, what history will repeat itself in your life span and will you be blind to it like the others? Or will you be able to look past the facade of a new issue, and see the answer to an old solution that was modernized for your time?
Throughout Aronson’s whole book, you can see history repeating itself. The most prominent example is the hatred and prejudice towards Jews. In the early chapters, Aronson talks about how in Roman society Jews were thought of as evil or people needed to be purged. This belief seemed to die down as time continued and Judaism became popular. However, in the 1940s the Holocaust occurred. Adolf Hitler killed millions of Jews, spreading his hatred for them. As many history books claim that many were appalled by the mass killings, some supported it willingly. They saw it as a true purge on a scar across humanity. Hitler’s Christian view that Jews should be killed was not a popular belief, but others shared the sentiment whether it was because they too felt the same way or they were made to. For now, hatred towards Jews is nonexistent, or rather it is mute to the common person. However, as history always will, the hatred and prejudice towards Jews will most likely return. Humanity can't keep its hands from being burnt even after it has touched the fire twice before.
Along with the theme of history repeating itself, it brought the reader's attention to the Holocaust. It made me think of the many other genocides there have been of different types of people based on eugenics or social connections. The trend of history repeating itself speaks for itself as one of the leading genocide movements is called "Never Again", although somehow there is always an again. This can be seen as there has been a genocide before the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, and many after such as the Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur genocides. This is just another example of how history repeats itself and how humanity will never learn from its mistakes.
The amount of information that supports the idea that history repeats itself makes me want to say that is Aronson's second argument. However, while it may be an argument, it is not something Aronson crafted for the book. History itself represents repetition, arrogance, and stupidity. Aronson did not consciously make history repeating itself an argument because it is clear it does. No matter which history book you look at, from any country or region or language, you will see repetition. It makes you wonder, what history will repeat itself in your life span and will you be blind to it like the others? Or will you be able to look past the facade of a new issue, and see the answer to an old solution that was modernized for your time?
Hi Ella,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the fact that you brought up the point that history repeats itself. I had a similar point that I brought up: what is going to stop something like the genocide we read in this section from happening again if racial hatred is still a consistent issue like it is today? I also really liked the connection you made at the end of your blog in saying that Aronson makes it clear that history is filled with and reflects "repetition, arrogance, and stupidity". It's something I picked up on but never really connected. Overall, great blog!
Hi Charlie,
DeleteThanks! Yeah, in honesty I doubt that there will be anything to stop another genocide from happening today. Not to mention the technology that we now have today, it could both aid or defeat the possibilities a genocide.
Good discussion of a major thematic idea. How do you see this idea related to his other argument? Are they linked in the sense that one of the reasons history repeats is because of the racism and prejudice that we can't get rid of?
ReplyDeleteIt relates to his main argument because he is arguing about how race and racism was always present, repeating itself within history in different ways.
DeleteHistory does continue to repeat itself because racism and prejudice is not something that can just cease to exist. Hypothetically, it would take destroying all history books and those who have even slight racism or prejudice. However, in reality, I think racism and prejudice is improving as weird as it may sound to say with today's biggest movements/controversies about race. Eventually, I would like to hope humans can all live among themselves as humans and not as difference races.