No. All that nationality rubbish is entirely arbitrary. Imagine two guys born and living in neighbouring countries, that each build their house five feet from the border. By that logic, the history Steve would have to learn is completely different from the one Phil would have to learn, despite both being equally (ir)relevant to each party.
Then, two years later, Steve gains power in his nation and annexes Phil's nation. Now Phil has to learn an entirely new state history because Monkey Business says so.
Then two years later the whole continent sinks under the ocean.
Regional differences in the UK? Well here up North we all live on farms and drink bitter. Down South, they all live in appartments and drink white-wine spritzers. Then there's Scotland where they live in castles and drink Irn Bru, and Wales where they live in cottages and drink tea. Ireland doesn't count, cos it's not even attached.
Stopping mistakes made in the past: For britain cromwell stopped corruption in parliament by the 5 interlinked powerhouses, which are now trying to be all shut bar parliament.
Other possible things countries should aknowledge: Hitler and the like. Need any more?
World history is actually pretty interesting and all, but really it gets old to be taught your own country's history over and over again in school even if you know the general stuff of everything that happened.
I liked learning american history, however, I did not like learning hawaiiana. 6 years of hawaiian history?! What the fuck? all they did was muck about naked until captain cook came, then got really pissed when they put the queen under arrest and made hawaii the 50th state. I mean, I just summed it up for you right there, no need to know anything else.
Steve Zissou: Anne-Marie, do all the interns get Glocks?
Anne-Marie: No, they have to share one.
Deleted User
7th June, 2005 at 3:42:46 PM -
Done what? Incited rebellion? LIAR!
Hawaiian history sounds like african history, except something actually happens at the end.
I think it's pretty imoportant to know your history, if not we will all fall into traps we've fallen into before, I agree entirely with cybermaze when he said
"Well ... for what is worth (there is some serious talk going on).
To know where you are today, you have know what went on before.
If you dont know your past, you dont know why your present looks as it does, and may not capable of shaping the future in a proper manner.
Also, there is a lot to learn from the past. Especially the mistakes our ancestors have made.
That does not mean you have to know everything about every country in the world. But knowing some is better than nothing."
If we don't learn from the past, were gonnna seriously screw the world.
Pragmatism doesn't require a comprehensive knowledge of history. Common sense should dictate that trying to invade the rest of Europe is a bad idea. In any case, sensibilities change. A lot of the really bad stuff in history seemed like a Really Good Idea at the time.
I leanrt almost nothing in school history lessons, but nowadays i think knowing is better than not knowing.
Unfortunately there is always too much to know for me to keep my interest, i just get small facts like the population of places and how rich certain countries are.
pointless really but it helps fight ignorance a bit.
American history and general world history can be interesting. Ancient history as well. Australian history is horrible and I'm in school certificate year which means I have to learn that.
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