Book Review on "Lies My Teacher Told Me Loewen"

Book Review 5 pages (1739 words) Sources: 0

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Loewen, James W. (1996). Lies My Teacher Told Me. New York: Touchstone

The book Lies My Teacher Told Me written by James Loewen is a written narrative to help the students of the United States garner an awareness of their true history. The book attempts to inform the reader how and why American history has been taught in the schools without particular attention being paid to the truth. The format of Loewen's manuscript is one of methodically comparing twelve different history textbooks currently being used in the educational system. These texts are as follows: The Great Republic, the American Way, Land of Promise, Rise of the American Nation, Challenge of Freedom, American Adventures, Discovering American History, the American Tradition, Life and Liberty, the United States - a History of the Republic, Triumph of the American Nation and the American Pageant. By comparing the aforementioned manuscripts Loewen effectively re-tells American history from, according to him, a correct perspective. Loewen argues his case for what he aptly describes as 'Heroification', "Euorcentrism' and the first settlers, and 'Racism' throughout the country's history. With a great sense of dignity he has done this knowing fully that the country's citizenry are not accepting, nor want to know, of the harsh realities of the nations somewhat unacceptable past. Although the United States has attempted to maintain a positive image throughout history Loewen is very adamant about bringing to light the many skeletons, and on many levels, in our country's history. All, according to Loewen, must be brought to a level of awareness in the country if healing is to take place. In fact Loewen stresses the point that many of us refuse to critically evaluate the past with respect to racism, especially in our infancy stage of development. During that period men tried to pursue their way of thinking as opposed to what is good for the country and now must face their feelings of shame at what the United States stood for in the past.

Loewen employs the term 'Heroification' frequently when describing the country's past and defines the concept as a degenerative process that makes people into heroes regardless ones individual character flaw. Further, it appears that Loewen's greatest concern about 'Heroification' does not revolve around who gets chosen for inclusion in the history books rather what actually happens to them after they are included - a cart before the horse analogy. He cites two notable examples of people that had led colorful and extraordinary lives but are portrayed in our textbooks as people we should strive to become like. These two people referenced are Helen Keller and President Woodrow Wilson (Lies, 19). In these instances Loewen feels that heroification has distorted the lives of both Keller and Wilson and as a result can no longer think candidly about them. However, he does not merely reference these two notable alone but references many others as well throughout our history. When it comes to Keller most think of a person who, throughout her entire life, has struggled to overcome her disabilities. Although no one would readily dispute this, in reality Miss Keller was a radical Socialist for most of her life. However condemning her political view is not the issue, rather knowing her outspoken condemnation of the country in which she lived is entirely another issue of concern. In fact so strong is her condemnation of the country that it borders on treason (Lies, 20). In addition, Loewen narrates about President Wilson and cites currently used text books as those that illuminate and praise his stand to lead the United States reluctantly into World War 1 as well as to associate him with economic and political progressive causes (Lies, 22). Loewen points out what most text books fail to mention is that under Wilson Latin America was more often than at any other time in our history faced with American intervention. Concurrently Loewen points out that Wilson led the country into the "Unknown War" as well - a war none of which the twelve textbooks reviewed mention (Lies, 24). Racial problems also beleaguered Wilson throughout his Presidency. By abusing his power as Chief Executive he managed to completely, and without equivocation, segregate the Federal Government. In doing so he appointed whites to offices that were traditionally reserved for Black Americans. In addition, during his second term in office a wave of anti-black race riots swept the country and, as a horrific result, many Blacks lost their lives. Again these are only two examples amongst countless others which show how the textbooks do not show flaws about through the actions of historically acclaimed figures but 'Heroifies' them instead.

The second noteworthy term used in the book is that of "Euorcentrism'. The author employs this term to describe how our country's history has been written from a forceful European perspective and, as such, bases the way history is written and taught. For example, textbooks use Christopher Columbus and 1492 as the day the Americas were "discovered" and by whom. Unfortunately little credence is given to the Vikings who landed in North America in approximately 1005 AD, as Loewen points out this discovery issue been neglected when it comes to being given credit in the history books reviewed by Loewen (Lies, 43). The real irony of the situation, and one well referenced by Loewen, is that the text books reviewed fail to authenticate that America had been inhabited during all of this time by Native Americans whose ancestry can be traced back thousands of years prior to America's supposed "discovery" (Lie, 70). One of the most significant historical queries the Loewen book attempts to answer is why Columbus had been given the credit for the "discovery" and why the Americas became a place to colonize? The book narrates on the issue or question of how Columbus was a man of renowned vision and adventure and why this is portrayed in the textbooks as truth. Once again the reader must ask whether or not this represents a true Columbus image and life, or is it a way of 'heroifying' the man to teach all students that yes, you too can perform monumental accomplishments. Although giving impressionable students the reinforcement needed to build personal confidence is acceptable and noteworthy one must ask the question is it worth it? Herein Loewen expresses the idea that such a history process it is not and stresses the fact that impressionable students need to know that failure and character flaws exist in everyone - event those portrayed as heroes in the textbooks. Loewen also feels that every nationality, culture and race needs, and deserves, credit for the shaping the nation -- not only the Europeans.

According to that which is written in Lies My Teacher Told Me racism has existed and flourished in America since the first non-native man set foot on its shores and in time America has become a breeding ground for various racist views and ideology. Most likely racism started with the exploitation of the Native American and hopefully will ending with Black Americans as the country cannot afford to loose what civility remains by selecting another race upon which to thrust its racist mind-sets. Every student should garner an appreciation in knowing that the Native Americans were the first to be discriminated against, first by the Spanish then by the colonials. What followed were decades and eras of slavery that escalated into slaughter and confiscation of their lands and back again to slavery. Although enslavement of ones fellow human beings has been in existence prior to 1492, the new world seemed to nurture and broadcast it. Even after slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865, the black man, as a citizen, was refused the rights given to whites. Even today African-Americans feel that racism is alive and flourishing in America. In the late 19th and early 20th century African-Americans still had a difficult time being accepted by whites in terms of being equal regardless of their intellect or contribution to society in general. The nation seems to have made some progress in the latter part of the 20th century in the United States but a great deal more needs to be done to put racism behind us for all citizens involved whether they be African-American, Asian-Americans, or Latino-Americans, and even same sex partners.

In Loewen's chapter entitled "Why is history taught like this" he attempts to inform the reader as to the various reasons why, in fact, history is taught the way it is in our schools. He volleys between blaming and then exonerating the elite with their supposed superior mentality in influencing authors and publishers for these types of textbooks (Lies, 273-276). Although this group may be, in part, to blame in the influence on some history subjects, the textbooks on the average are not generally chosen by these people rather by academic review committees who are part of the countless school systems throughout nation. One can only wonder whether or not… READ MORE

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