"He had his faults and his defects, but they were largely the defects of the qualities that made him great..."
-Samuel Eliot Morison in Christopher Columbus, Mariner
For a recount of historical events, as the title suggests, Howard Zinn's, A People's History of the United States seems to be incredibly emotionally charged, but perhaps that is where the word "people's" comes into play. I wonder if it is true that humans can document anything without a biased influence. I believe that it is in our nature to voice our opinions on subjects about which we feel passionate. In America the Freedom of Speech permits us to do this. Essentially, the only thing which stops us from sharing our viewpoint is our own fear of how we will be received, thus the only thing stoping us from acting in our nature is ourselves. This represents the same "double-bladedness" of humanity as Morison's quote. Columbus was determined, stubborn, deeply religious, persistent, but the way that he put these qualities into action brought forth cruelty and violence, even racism. I think, as Morison eloquently notes, that humanity is double sided. Our best qualities which are virtuous and give us moral guidance can also lead us astray if we do not consider the consequences of pursuing such things as greed.
No comments:
Post a Comment