Its Friday & that means its Five Among Friends! We had a drop out, and Dawn of Dawn's Disaster picked up the slack with this week's questions. Next week the lovely Kate of Just Pirouette and Carry On is the host. We'd love to have you join in too! Just shoot me an email {theclosetintellectual (at) gmail (dot) com} & I'll get you set up!
1) If you could be famous for ONE thing, what would it be?
Honestly it would be history related. I'd like to be famous for putting Americans back in touch with their real history. American history has been heavily manipulated by politicians since the 1950s, and most Americans really don't know what our history is-- they just know what politicians tell them from either the pulpit or the podium.
BTW A politician is a person involved in politics or who is manipulating information to gain advancement politically-- whether they are manipulating people to gain power for their political views, party or religion. You don't have to be a congressman to be a politician. You just have to want to manipulate people for a political reason.
The frustrating bit from the educators side is that when one tries to correct the misinformation, they are accused of "revising" history. They aren't revising history, they are correcting the revisions that others made. Even the tests students have to take to "prove" they know history in elementary/high school are manipulated. Did you know that politicians make the tests American kids take in school? They do. Well, actually test companies write the tests to political requirements. So teachers are forced to teach what politicians and/or political figures want them to teach-- because if students don't pass the test, the teacher can lose his/her job.
Lemme give you and example.
I actually had a college student argue that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. He didn't. It was written in 1892. And under God wasn't added to it until Eisenhower added it in 1955. And In God We Trust was added to our cash in 1957 and our motto in 1956. All of those additions have literally nothing to do with the founding of our country. Nothing. At all. Yet students still occasionally argue that they believe the founders had something to do with it, and their belief is all that is required to make it true. I think Stephen Colbert referred to it as truthiness.
But history doesn't require you to be believe it-- it is so whether you believe it or not...
Argh. Sorry about the rant. I care about this rather passionately.
Honestly it would be history related. I'd like to be famous for putting Americans back in touch with their real history. American history has been heavily manipulated by politicians since the 1950s, and most Americans really don't know what our history is-- they just know what politicians tell them from either the pulpit or the podium.
BTW A politician is a person involved in politics or who is manipulating information to gain advancement politically-- whether they are manipulating people to gain power for their political views, party or religion. You don't have to be a congressman to be a politician. You just have to want to manipulate people for a political reason.
The frustrating bit from the educators side is that when one tries to correct the misinformation, they are accused of "revising" history. They aren't revising history, they are correcting the revisions that others made. Even the tests students have to take to "prove" they know history in elementary/high school are manipulated. Did you know that politicians make the tests American kids take in school? They do. Well, actually test companies write the tests to political requirements. So teachers are forced to teach what politicians and/or political figures want them to teach-- because if students don't pass the test, the teacher can lose his/her job.
Lemme give you and example.
I actually had a college student argue that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. He didn't. It was written in 1892. And under God wasn't added to it until Eisenhower added it in 1955. And In God We Trust was added to our cash in 1957 and our motto in 1956. All of those additions have literally nothing to do with the founding of our country. Nothing. At all. Yet students still occasionally argue that they believe the founders had something to do with it, and their belief is all that is required to make it true. I think Stephen Colbert referred to it as truthiness.
But history doesn't require you to be believe it-- it is so whether you believe it or not...
Argh. Sorry about the rant. I care about this rather passionately.
2) If you had a super-power, what would it be? Why?
Oh no question on this one-- time travel. I'm a historian after all.
And on a vaguely related note, I started watching Dr. Who as a kid on PBS. Here is my doctor.
3) When did you realize you wanted to be a blogger?
I don't know that I had a moment when I decided to become a blogger per say. I mean, I decided I wanted to start a blog because it looked fun, and blogger made set up easy so whizz-bang the thought became an action in an afternoon. As time went on, I started posting regularly, inquiring as to how to expand my audience & studying basic html and graphic design as a hobby. I guess I sort of evolved into a blogger without noticing lol
I don't know that I had a moment when I decided to become a blogger per say. I mean, I decided I wanted to start a blog because it looked fun, and blogger made set up easy so whizz-bang the thought became an action in an afternoon. As time went on, I started posting regularly, inquiring as to how to expand my audience & studying basic html and graphic design as a hobby. I guess I sort of evolved into a blogger without noticing lol
4) UPS or FedEx? Which is better?
FedEx for speed, UPS for sheer childlike excitement. There's nothing like it when that big old brown truck pulls into your driveway-- its like Santa!
5) What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
I know I should say something wonderfully modern like peach & basil {which Ruthie of My Trash and Treasure made recently & I'm dying to try}. But reality is, I'm a Ben & Jerry's girl. Chunky Monkey FTW.
And I like Taro Yobe Frozen Yogurt. In case you were wondering.
Now stay tuned for these fine blogger's answers coming soon!
I know I should say something wonderfully modern like peach & basil {which Ruthie of My Trash and Treasure made recently & I'm dying to try}. But reality is, I'm a Ben & Jerry's girl. Chunky Monkey FTW.
And I like Taro Yobe Frozen Yogurt. In case you were wondering.
Now stay tuned for these fine blogger's answers coming soon!
I loved your rant in the beginning and this week's questions sure were fun!! I am posting mine on Monday and can't wait to share, because I really just loved answering them all, especially the super powers one, because I literally had just vlogged about it!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't wait to read your answers!
DeleteI love history as well. I really do. I think time travel is an excellent super power - and one I wouldn't think of.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that you know so much about the pledge of alligence. That's awesome. Also, something I would never have thought of. I don't even know who created it. Thanks so much for the history lesson.
I just love these 5 among friends!
The pledge etc fits right in my field of expertise {my degree is in American history with a focus on civil disobedience}. And I love the 5 among friends posts too!
DeleteTime travel! That is awesome, I would have never thought that but I love it!
ReplyDeleteHa! I don't know how it would be much use in the Justice League, but its totally what I'd go with lol!
DeleteI admire your passion for history. I wish I knew more about it. I feel lazier and lazier about learning as I get older!
ReplyDeleteWe are fans of River Song too...actually, Alex Kingston is just fun to watch anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI also admire your passion for history. So interesting about the pledge of allegiance; I had no idea. While I'm happy to pledge allegiance to a nation under God, I think dogmatism (the kind that attempts to control and coerce, in particular), whether it claims to be for or against principles I embrace, is a sort of violence. Not ok with that.
I get your rant. Have you read "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus"? I haven't yet (my sister keeps recommending)...but I understand he deconstructs popular myths about pre-Columbus America. It sounds really good.