I dont like Black History Month

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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
59,208
13,801
136
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: UDT89
how come colleges have requirements for foreign history, but no requirements for american history.

i had to take american history myself, but i was forced to take History of Modern China.
Because 65% of people couldn't point out where Iraq was on a map. It is embarrassing. Something we might want to improve on.

That's geography, not history.
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: Spencer278
We should teach European history because it has had the greast influence on the world and the contry we live in.
If by influence you mean horribly violent influence then yes. I'm glad I got a racist comment out of you though.

That isn't a racist comment... Also, we *don't* have white history month. Show me a time where students only discuss white history. IIRC History class is tought by, get this it's an amazing concept, DATE.

BHM is the only time where history is taught according to race. This by definition make it RACIST.

If you justify BHM, your also justifying RACISM.

Take some time to wrap your head around that concept.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
59,208
13,801
136
Originally posted by: amoeba
The level of cultural awareness in this country is pretty low. Just look at the foreign language curriculum in our high schools compared to those of any developed country.

What's that got to do with cultural awareness? Do you have to speak a foreign language to learn about a foreign country?
 

BriGy86

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2004
4,537
1
91
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: BriGy86
and what do you all think would happen if there was a white history month?.............
Hmmm we already have January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December? You planning to add a new month?

how do we "have" all those months?
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Americans don't teach actual world history. High school ancient history classes teach Greek and Roman history, hell they should just name it that. Forget teaching about China, they didn't even teach about Persia and India two civilizations that had a large amount of trade with the Greeks and Romans. This is just one example but it is completely pathetic. This is not education, it is garbage. Throughout high school I have seen the same thing. They teach about non-Western civilizations but they will devote half the time they do to Western civilizations and half of it is usually spend discussing the caste system or something instead of teaching anything positive.

Look; if we revamped our entire history teaching system to more closely mirror the truth than that would be fine. But we don't, and this was some liberals desperate attempt to put in a counter-weight outside of the American school curriculum. We wouldn't have any need for any history month if we taught the facts. The fact is whites concentrate on white civilization. We have a history of thinking we are 'aryans' or the 'chosen ones'. It is probably because Northern Europe has only had civilization for about 1000 years, before that we were banging rocks together in caves or harassing the Romans. We can't follow this path anymore when half this country's population is not white. Evolve or keep the current system. I personally think we have a lot to learn from past and present non-Western civilizations. Maybe not technologically, but spiritually and philosophically.[/quote]I do not disagree that our history curriculum should be given a more global focus, but BHM does nothing to further that agenda.

 

walla

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
987
0
0
I bet most of the people arguing against black history month are the same type of people that would complain that people on welfare get free food stamps.

They are the same people that want to have everyone treated equal, but won't sacrifice anything to make it happen. It's a shame.
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
0
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: amoeba
The level of cultural awareness in this country is pretty low. Just look at the foreign language curriculum in our high schools compared to those of any developed country.

What's that got to do with cultural awareness? Do you have to speak a foreign language to learn about a foreign country?


it certainly helps. I doubt our knowledge of other country's history and culture can be called high. Just as an example, how many translated foreign authors did you read in your high school lit class?
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
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Originally posted by: walla
I bet most of the people arguing against black history month are the same type of people that would complain that people on welfare get free food stamps.

They are the same people that want to have everyone treated equal, but won't sacrifice anything to make it happen. It's a shame.


It has nothing to do with sacrifice. while I see nothing wrong with black history month, the people who are arguing against it are not doing it because of the reason you are stating.

Just like those that argue against welfare aren't for the exploitation of the poor. Just like those who argue against medicare or social security aren't for the exploitation of the old.
 

Proletariat

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2004
5,614
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Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: Spencer278
We should teach European history because it has had the greast influence on the world and the contry we live in.
If by influence you mean horribly violent influence then yes. I'm glad I got a racist comment out of you though.

That isn't a racist comment... Also, we *don't* have white history month. Show me a time where students only discuss white history. IIRC History class is tought by, get this it's an amazing concept, DATE.

BHM is the only time where history is taught according to race. This by definition make it RACIST.

If you justify BHM, your also justifying RACISM.

Take some time to wrap your head around that concept.
Take some time to wrap your head around the concept that our teaching is often biased/wrong and you don't get it because you are too oblivious to the facts to realize it.

History is cyclical. If the Indians didn't invent the numerals and the concept of zero we may not have had the math we do today. If the Chinese didn't invent gunpowder we may have not had guns. If the Arabs didn't dabble in Algebra and calculus we may have not had the advanced science we do today. Saying Europe is the end-all be-all is stupid. Europe is a very violent flash in the timeline. One can argue that the advent of Western power was the downfall of the rest of the world. The inequality of wealth in the modern world is a direct product of that.
 

TravisT

Golden Member
Sep 6, 2002
1,427
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I don't necessarily get upset about it until the african american people pull out their "Feel sorry for me" card. Many, not all, continue to say that they aren't being treated fairly. However, they continue to support and push for these kinds of things that segregate themselves.

Thankfully, Bill Cosby is the only black person i've seen thus far that had enough guts to let a specific demograph of people know what the rest of us were thinking without getting the "racist" card thrown out.
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
0
Proletariat, you still haven't said the reason for BHM to exist. You have said that there needs to be less Euro centric teaching in our current schools. No one is arguing with you on that.

you have not said how BHM contributes to a better curriculum.

Isn't a less Euro centric curriculum achievable without a BHM?

 

walla

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
987
0
0
BHM is the only time where history is taught according to race. This by definition make it RACIST.

Then calling someone black is racist. You have classified him according to race.

Calling someone male or female is sexist.

I could go on and on. This definition is too loose.
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: amoeba
Now as to the topic on hand. First, we do not know whether the removal of black history month removes certain guidelines that schools have for their curriculum. I think that should the removal of black history month remove these guidelines, it would not surprise me to see certain schools shy away from teaching about even the most basic and well known black individuals.
Granted the number will be small, but it is bound to happen with a few schools.
I am obviously against removing important figures from our history books just because they're black, but if you look just at the schools that would remove that curriculum if the guidelines were removed, do you really think that black history month makes a difference to them? They're not going to teach it anyway. If that school system AND its teachers are SO racist that they won't teach anything about positive contributions from blacks, they're not going to recognize black history month.
 

Proletariat

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2004
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Originally posted by: amoeba
Proletariat, you still haven't said the reason for BHM to exist. You have said that there needs to be less Euro centric teaching in our current schools. No one is arguing with you on that.

you have not said how BHM contributes to a better curriculum.

Isn't a less Euro centric curriculum achievable without a BHM?
I did you don't like reading apparently. It is a couterweight outside of the biased school system. Also some people above said all our teaching should be about Europe. Please read people. Don't waste my time.
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
0
Originally posted by: Ilmater
Originally posted by: amoeba
Now as to the topic on hand. First, we do not know whether the removal of black history month removes certain guidelines that schools have for their curriculum. I think that should the removal of black history month remove these guidelines, it would not surprise me to see certain schools shy away from teaching about even the most basic and well known black individuals.
Granted the number will be small, but it is bound to happen with a few schools.
I am obviously against removing important figures from our history books just because they're black, but if you look just at the schools that would remove that curriculum if the guidelines were removed, do you really think that black history month makes a difference to them? They're not going to teach it anyway. If that school system AND its teachers are SO racist that they won't teach anything about positive contributions from blacks, they're not going to recognize black history month.



I have no idea how far reaching black history month is. Whether it is just a paper holiday or whether there is real federal weight put behind it in terms of guidelines for schools.

My point is that if there is indeed federal guidelines that come with it that individual schools can't bypass, then it serves a purpose.

But you are right, if it is just something in name then it really doesn't help.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
59,208
13,801
136
Originally posted by: amoeba
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: amoeba
The level of cultural awareness in this country is pretty low. Just look at the foreign language curriculum in our high schools compared to those of any developed country.

What's that got to do with cultural awareness? Do you have to speak a foreign language to learn about a foreign country?


it certainly helps. I doubt our knowledge of other country's history and culture can be called high. Just as an example, how many translated foreign authors did you read in your high school lit class?

I don't know, that was ten years ago. Why, how many did you read?
You don't have to read foreign novels in their native language to learn about foreign culture. That sort of thing should rightfully be saved for college, where specialized education takes place. When I lived in Japan as a boy, we had Japanese culture class, but it was all done in English so we'd benefit from actually being able to understand it.
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: Spencer278
We should teach European history because it has had the greast influence on the world and the contry we live in.
If by influence you mean horribly violent influence then yes. I'm glad I got a racist comment out of you though.

That isn't a racist comment... Also, we *don't* have white history month. Show me a time where students only discuss white history. IIRC History class is tought by, get this it's an amazing concept, DATE.

BHM is the only time where history is taught according to race. This by definition make it RACIST.

If you justify BHM, your also justifying RACISM.

Take some time to wrap your head around that concept.
Take some time to wrap your head around the concept that our teaching is often biased/wrong and you don't get it because you are too oblivious to the facts to realize it.

History is cyclical. If the Indians didn't invent the numerals and the concept of zero we may not have had the math we do today. If the Chinese didn't invent gunpowder we may have not had guns. If the Arabs didn't dabble in Algebra and calculus we may have not had the advanced science we do today. Saying Europe is the end-all be-all is stupid. Europe is a very violent flash in the timeline. One can argue that the advent of Western power was the downfall of the rest of the world. The inequality of wealth in the modern world is a direct product of that.
You didn't address a single point and decided to call me "too oblivious to the facts..." yet don't point out any relevant facts.

Poor attempt to use my words against me. Come up with some substance and check back, OK?
 

Spencer278

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 2002
3,637
0
0
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Originally posted by: Spencer278
We should teach European history because it has had the greast influence on the world and the contry we live in.
If by influence you mean horribly violent influence then yes. I'm glad I got a racist comment out of you though.

That isn't a racist comment... Also, we *don't* have white history month. Show me a time where students only discuss white history. IIRC History class is tought by, get this it's an amazing concept, DATE.

BHM is the only time where history is taught according to race. This by definition make it RACIST.

If you justify BHM, your also justifying RACISM.

Take some time to wrap your head around that concept.
Take some time to wrap your head around the concept that our teaching is often biased/wrong and you don't get it because you are too oblivious to the facts to realize it.

History is cyclical. If the Indians didn't invent the numerals and the concept of zero we may not have had the math we do today. If the Chinese didn't invent gunpowder we may have not had guns. If the Arabs didn't dabble in Algebra and calculus we may have not had the advanced science we do today. Saying Europe is the end-all be-all is stupid. Europe is a very violent flash in the timeline. One can argue that the advent of Western power was the downfall of the rest of the world. The inequality of wealth in the modern world is a direct product of that.

Wouldn't that mean they had the greatest influence on the world. Any history books that talk about development of Europe always addes in a few lines about china invented gun poweder. Between the industrial revolution, colonies, WWI, and WWII Europe has had the greatest influence on world and on the USA.
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: Proletariat
Americans don't teach actual world history. High school ancient history classes teach Greek and Roman history, hell they should just name it that. Forget teaching about China, they didn't even teach about Persia and India two civilizations that had a large amount of trade with the Greeks and Romans. This is just one example but it is completely pathetic. This is not education, it is garbage. Throughout high school I have seen the same thing. They teach about non-Western civilizations but they will devote half the time they do to Western civilizations and half of it is usually spend discussing the caste system or something instead of teaching anything positive.

Look; if we revamped our entire history teaching system to more closely mirror the truth than that would be fine. But we don't, and this was some liberals desperate attempt to put in a counter-weight outside of the American school curriculum. We wouldn't have any need for any history month if we taught the facts. The fact is whites concentrate on white civilization. We have a history of thinking we are 'aryans' or the 'chosen ones'. It is probably because Northern Europe has only had civilization for about 1000 years, before that we were banging rocks together in caves or harassing the Romans. We can't follow this path anymore when half this country's population is not white. Evolve or keep the current system. I personally think we have a lot to learn from past and present non-Western civilizations. Maybe not technologically, but spiritually and philosophically.
I TOTALLY agree with you that we don't teach about other countries' histories in our schools, and I'm all about fixing that. In fact, in college, I took a few extra history classes and NONE of them were about American history because I felt like I already knew more than enough about America's history but nothing about other counties' history. I personally fell in love with Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Irish and Scottish histories. I think there are SO MANY incredibly important pieces of history that are overlooked that it's terrible.

But how, exactly, is any of this helped with BHM? I'd fvcking march on Washington with you if you wanted to change the focus of our world history classes, but that's not what we're talking about here. BHM is BARELY even a stop-gap solution for ONE sector fo society. But AGAIN, I think there are far more costs to having it.
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: BriGy86
and what do you all think would happen if there was a white history month?.............
It would be the most ignorant thing anyone's ever thought of. Wait... didn't you just...
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: UDT89
how come colleges have requirements for foreign history, but no requirements for american history.

i had to take american history myself, but i was forced to take History of Modern China.
Because colleges are smart enough to know that your a$$ has been stuffed full of American history for years, and NOT had enough of the history of the rest of the world.
 

jjoyner

Banned
Sep 13, 2004
583
0
0
rac·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rszm)
n.
1) The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2) Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Not to flame, but if the definition holds water, then isn't "Black History Month" racist?
Why not call it "People History Month"? Oh, then that would be pointless. BHM is based on African peoples' acheivments/ideals/$.02 contributions...frankly, no one is gleeming for a solid month that Henry Ford invented the g0dd@mn automobile?!??!
/me pissed and going to hides from John Coffee
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: amoeba
The level of cultural awareness in this country is pretty low. Just look at the foreign language curriculum in our high schools compared to those of any developed country.
I agree, but this is a bad example. English-speaking countries make up such a large portion of the world's economy, you HAVE to learn it if you want to work in the global marketplace. We're HUGE consumers, and FAR more countries do business with us than we do business with them, and not many other countries - if any - can say that. Plus, you have to remember that Europe is fairly small, but contains many different cultures and languages. If I want to travel to California to do business, I don't have to know a different language, but if I'm German and I want to sell to anyone outside of German-speaking areas (which aren't all that large), I have to know some foreign languages.

It's not good, admittedly, but there are other reasons for that particular statistic.
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: Spencer278
How is that comment racist. No other area has change the world like Europe and its colonies. And the fact that the history is a violent one only makes it more instesting.
Ottoman Empire
Mongolian Empire
Russia

Yes, other countries have something to do with history. I'm not saying it was racist, but I don't think that "No other area has change the world like Europe and its colonies" is an accurate statement.
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: Spencer278Between the industrial revolution, colonies, WWI, and WWII Europe has had the greatest influence on world and on the USA.
That last statement is VERY debatable. I think ancient ME history is very important in modern culture. Hammurabi's code of laws for example. China's developments are also very important. I'll agree world history needs to be focued on, but this is a straw man tactic Proletariat is using. Expanding world history has little to no relevance to BHM in the US.