[quote]Zeppelin795 wrote:
LBRTRN wrote:
Zeppelin795 wrote:
LBRTRN wrote:
Zeppelin795 wrote:
Most hsitory books that are used in high school and college are funded by corporations. Like the corporate press it is their objectives that are served not the majority of people.
LOL…do you actually believe this shit or are you just trying to push buttons?
Lets see…A People’s History of the United States, published by HarperCollins, which is owned by News Corporation, the CEO of which is…Rupert Murdoch.
Yes I believe it. The better question is why don’t you?
Capitalists at times will distribute things which are counter to their objectives as long as money can be made from it and they are confident that few people will take the information seriously. A reason why Michael Moore’s stuff gets good distribution.
Well, part of what you said is true: Capitalists will distribute material so long as it makes them money. That’s the beauty of capitalism and why it’s so important to a free and open society. However, just so we are clear, I want to make sure I understand your position. If corporation A distributes material you agree with, it’s because they are confident no one will take it seriously, but if that same company distributes material you disagree with, it’s because they are trying to brainwash the uneducated masses? How convenient…
I just want to point one more thing out: A People’s History of the United State’s was originally released in 1980 and almost won the National Book Award; furthermore, since that time, it has had tremendeous influence in the academic world and is required reading in classrooms across the country. Twenty three years later, HarperCollins chose to rerelease the book.
It seems to me, the information in A People’s History of the United States has been taken seriously. How does that square with your postion that “Capitalists at times will distribute things…they are confident…few people will take… seriously?”
You are missing my point. No system is perfect, there are of course “defects.” The “beauty of capitalism”–free market capitalism specificaly–is that, regardless of one’s politics, race, philosophy, religion, etc, your viewpoint will be heard. In this country–and many others of course–thousands of books and articles, covering every opinion under the sun, get published each and every year. Take a trip to Cuba and try and find a book critical of Castro; you won’t find any.
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Certainly corporations have a vested interest in keeping the public in the dark. They, like tyrants, never want to give up power and wealth. They own the media and filter it’s contents to bring you the view THEY want you to hear.[/quote]
With that in mind, how do you account for the publishing of A People’s History of the United State’s? I’ve already pointed out to you who the publisher is and it’s relation to one of the largest media conglomerates in the world. Why did they not chose to “filter” it’s content? I could just as easily name a thousand other examples of tyranical corporations publishing material that, according to you, runs counter to their interests.
I don’t know that that is the case, but regardless, the majority of Europe’s press is privately owned just as ours is, so what’s your point?
Highschool history books leave a lot to be disired but the bulk of the blame doesnt lie on the shoulders of the corporations publishing the books. It is much more complicated than that and this isn’t really the place to get into it. Highschools teach the basics of history and if you think Germany, Japan, Russia, and France (just a few examples) are any more eager to teach their children how fucked up their country is, you’re delusional. In fact, if you want to remedy the situation, then more capitalism is the answer, not less. If all schools were private, I can promise there would be many more willing to teach the views you espouse. Shit, you would even be able to start your own an teach the children of like minded parents whatever the hell you want. Of course, the opposite would also be true and I doubt very much you would approve of that.
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The overwhelming majority of information in “corporate history” books keeps in line with thier objectives. Yes they will distibute other points of view from time to time like Zinn’s book but how is that fair and balanced?[/quote]
Who taught you this shit? Zinn? Look, did it ever occure to that the point of view held by most historians is the prevelant view? Did it ever occure to that the view you and Zinn hold just isn’t the view held by most in the field? I’m sorry, but I read a lot of history, and I spend a lot of time at the book store skimming through histroy books and there are plenty that love to point out the failings of this counrty; if you arent finding them, that’s your problem. The fact is, this country has done a lot of bad, but it has done more good–certainly more than Zinn would ever admit. I’m a product of California schools and I’m well aware of this country’s failings; if there are students out there who aren’t, it’s the fault of their teachers, their parents, and the students themselves, not some evil corporate conspiracy. Furthermore, just because your point of view is not prevelant, doesn’t mean you get to blame it on tyranical corporations–maybe your side just doesn’t hold as credible point of view as you think it does.
