Ten-Minute Studies In History: The Point Of Studying History Is To Understand Those Involved. Lecture 3.

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus Garvey.

History is important is a saying that should go without saying. At least it should go without saying but it seems the modern mind is not interested in history unless it can be rewritten and even changed. This corrupts the point of studying history as it is and not as these revisionists wish it to be. Histories value is that it’s the story of humanity and all those points of interest in the study of history. History is not there to be rewritten but to be studied, taught, learned from, and certainly to be remembered. History is never dull if taught correctly; and believe me I have had dull teachers of a subject that should never be able to be dull on any level. Yet, I have heard a dull history class; I wont say where but I should. He managed to bore me and that takes work when history is being talked about. The point of studying history is to understand the human condition that occurred within some else’s life. History is the pursuit of understanding and remembering that the past has more stories to tell than people who don’t study history will ever know. Teaching history shouldn’t be so complicated to teach and study. It’s about life and all things related. That’s history in it’s basic form, life and everything else related. Let’s look at some of the major historical events in June. Let’s look at the history of nations and people and the individual on the landscape of history and see that there are endless stories and that is why it’s important. The life of a nation, of a people, let alone the individual is the core of all historical events. The Battle of Midway, June 4-7, 1942 was a pivotal moment in the stopping the aggression of the Japanese Empire during World War Two. It was the moment when a battle changed the course of the war for one nation toward victory and the other to eventual defeat. It was the battle that needed to be won by the United States at the right moment in the early months of the war. But the battle itself was fought by individuals with machines of war. It cost human lives to win this battle, 307 Americans were killed, Japanese killed, 3,057; that’s life stories that had something to say before they got to the end of their very short lives. Both sides of the war lost stories of individuals and that’s the important part of human history; the individual stories are important. There is no minor life in history when it’s being played out on a global scale as a world war; not even sure there is a minor one in the simplest of lives as well. (The Japanese at this point also invaded the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, June 3, 1942-August 15, 1943 at the cost of 1,481 American lives, 4,350 Japanese lives; more stories that ended early). These two events of World War Two are stories of the value of human life and the sacrifices of those who died for that belief in this countries reasons for going to war. It’s the story of the outcome of their sacrifice; it’s the history of civilization continuing after the battle and the war. (Book recommendation, “The Battle Of Midway.” By. Craig L. Symonds; “The Thousand-Mile War: World War II In Alaska And The Aleutians.” By. Brian Garfield).

The obvious thing about history is that it’s about humanity. It’s the story of human interaction with their own civilization and they attempt to keep it going. It’s the story of humanity and it’s connection or disconnection with other civilizations. It’s a never ending story with a numberless amount of stories interacting with countless other stories. The events of just the month of June is a story of so many stories of lives and moments and cause-effect and just moments of living a daily life; not sure how anyone can dislike history! Can anyone not study-research the events of June 6th, 1944 of the D-Day Landings and not think about the 10,000 American, British, Canadian, Polish, and French, casualties, with 4,414 killed, (Book Recommendation, “Six Armies In Normandy.” By. John Keegan; and too many books to recommend as well). And the 4000-9000 killed, wounded, missing, captured of the German defenders of Normandy. Each life of each side of this battle to save Europe from Hilter’s grasp of Empire. The men on both sides had lives before the war and some would have lives after, but their story should be viewed as a whole. History is made of individuals despite the vast scope of the epic moment in world history; each individual story is important. Other moments of individual stories and the impact of national or world history in June? The Battle of Bunker Hill, (June 17, 1775), during the early days of the American Revolution, (1775-1783), was fought and lost to the British but stood as a symbol of resistance for continuing the rebellion against England and King George III, (1738-1820). The defenders of Bunker-Breeds Hill were simple farmers, merchants, and those who came to fight for their own reasons. These were not professional soldiers like the British who were marching up hill toward them. The American’s held their ground for a bit before it was obvious the British were not going to stop coming. Why they stood their and fought and died there is their story and it’s important to remember them as individuals; that includes the British side, (Book recommendation, “Redcoats And Rebels: The American Revolution Through British Eyes” By. Christopher Hibbert). History is about the individual no matter as I said the landscape of the battle as it’s still fought by individuals. Another American Revolution battle worth mentioning in June, that would be the Battle of Monmouth, June 28th, 1778. A slug fest of the Continental Army against the British Army. Another study in human endurance and the will to stand and fight and the study of the individual in the midst of a long very hot day and battle.

This is why history matters because it’s about the actions of individuals who’s actions on the stage of history is never small to that single person. It’s matters to those involved in the other June battles and moments, such as Battle of Waterloo, (June 18, 1815), The Battle of Little Big Horn, (June 25, 1876), The Battle of Brandy Station, (June 9th, 1863; American Civil War), The beginning of the Seven Days Battles, (June 25-July 1, 1862; American Civil War), The Siege Of Vicksburg begins, (June 28, 1863; American Civil War), The Korean War, (1950-1953), begins, June 25, 1950. The Six-Day War, (June 5-10, 1967), is fought between the young nation of Israel and the Arabs nations surrounding it. The Assasination of Archduke Ferdinand Of Austria, (1863-1914), on June 28, 1914 which of course set into motion World War One, (1914-1918). At the cost of millions dead and their stories ending in that conflict. History of the individual is why history should be studied and not forgotten. History of the individual is why history is never going to run out of history to write about and study.