of today, the readings in this class have really been an eye opener, providing me with great insights into the history of America. There is this sense of injustice that I derive from Columbus introduction, which further fuels my knowledge of how Native Americans are sidelined and treated as second-class citizens. It seems farfetched and even absurd, for the European explorers to be so quick as to regard the already existing land as theirs, then make a judgment that they are superior to the indigenous people and seek to attain ownership in this land which they choose to term the “New World”- despite the fact that they are in no manner genuine discovers of a new piece of land. However, one can’t deny that even till today, there is always this sense of power struggle, as different nations or countries attempt to usurp the other and claim superiority.
What strikes me as the most crucial element of American history is the emergence of the printing press, as it serves as an extremely important tool, by which a person’s ideas can be “widely disseminated” (333). Armed with the focus on education, these two factors are imperative, as it is the only way in which one can guarantee that their ideas are understood and instilled into the minds of the people. But then again, one has to understand the downside of the power of words and newspapers, as they possess the ability to influence a wide spread of audience, but are expressed by the brains of only a certain few. They are thus extremely “influential” (323).
With this awareness, one have to always bear in mind, the importance of making their own judgment and not merely accepting what is placed in front of them.
No comments:
Post a Comment