Who are we without our history?
Which history?
The one written by white men who owned slaves?
The one written by colonialists?
I actually agree with Commentary Page columnist Pat Buchanan that most explorers were white supremacists (“Who Are We Without Our History,” PDN, Aug. 15).
Our (my) European history is overflowing with an abundance of “takers” eager to share their exploits and destitute of “minorities’ voices.”
Yet again, how can you write your history when you are not supposed to learn how to write (as was the case for women until not so long ago), and not allowed to speak your own language (as with many cultural and indigenous groups, even though attempts at reviving almost lost languages deserve to be mentioned — such as “How to Keep Your Language Alive: A Commonsense Approach to One-On-One Language Learning” by Leanne Hinton, Heyday Books, 2002)?
The issue is not about getting rid of history.
It is about making sure history is written by all who participate in the present moment so their beliefs and values don’t go unnoticed and forgotten.
Time to amend the history books and time to give equal voice to all in a country that prides itself on equality and democracy.
I don’t think we need to scientifically or historically prove “men are created equal,” either.
What is equality to Mr. Buchanan?
But that is an entirely different debate.
Astrid Raffinpeyloz,
Sequim