Previously: Past Tense: History of History (Naming Names Part 2)
When the times change, the terms of discussion
change as well. One so often hears the saying people are "merely a
product of their times." This canard is never used to explain good and
noble behavior. People take credit for their good and noble behavior.
On the other hand , they spread out the guilt to the broad group for
ignoble acts. One rarely meets people proud of their mistakes.
But times change, pride fades. Shame grows when your victim finds his voice. Bad acts are explained in the passive voice. Mistakes were made. How late to be recognized mistakes are dealt with is part of the battle for how history will be told.
Here's an analysis worthy of discussion from Dave Niewert:
"During the years leading up to the Civil War, blacks in the South were
rarely the victims of lynchings -- since they were viewed as property,
it was considered an act of theft to kill someone else’s slave."
Niewert makes the additional notes. Immediately after the Civil War, the slave became the Free Man, first beaten by the Klan to keep him in line, then killed quietly. Killing of the black man progressed to savage spectacle with proud and grinning pictures and postcards to prove it. Only later do smiles fade.
Here we have the bad actor. Off hand justification for all behavior first, then the minimizing of the behavior's effect. Dimunition of the victim's worth, then small recognition of the victim's humanity. Then: what happened was a product of the times. Later: the perpetrator was a product of the times. Then those times are best forgotten. The perpetrator would like to forget, but the vicitm won't let him. The victim wants a fair discussion for what was unfairly put upon him. The perpetrotor cries foul
This thread of thought will continue, but is open for comment now.
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