History can be very helpful to study ...so we don't repeat our mistakes, but also for seeing the good that people have done, so we can repeat the goodness.
But, history can also become a blame game ...as different versions are presented, and if the goal is not to learn then it too often is used as a manipulative tool.
Who did what first ...and the 'why' behind it, or whether the 'why' is justification enough.
And depending on who you ask, as each side verily prefers their own version.
The two Balkan Wars, between 1912-1913, caused much certain turmoil ...and emotions that had been stirred, were not easily quenched. A Serbian national assassinated the Archduke of Austrian-Hungary, on June 28th 1914.
One month later (give or take a couple days), Russia mobilizes its vast army to intervene in favor of its ally Serbia.
Germany responds as an ally to Austria-Hungary.
Now, we don't know of all the intentions, plotting, and opportunistic advantages sought ...but, we had Serbia, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. The fourth one in, was Germany.
Nearly 4 years into the war, Germany and the new Bolshevik government of Russia sign a peace treaty.
(Perhaps the history of Russia would be more interesting to many Americans ...as they would find the story to have many twists and turns, and it wouldn't matter as much what the truth was, as we may not take sides as we tend to do. With Nicholas II going to the battle lines, and his wife left behind with their sick son ...Alexandra was very vulnerable to Rasputin, whom she felt was a man of God.)
From World War II, we see another interesting photo ...of Winston Churchill, FDR, and Joseph Stalin sitting together. And it was said that Churchill warned FDR, not to trust Stalin. But, supposedly FDR felt Stalin was an okay guy.
Yes, it's very difficult to report factual history ...especially concerning a war, when so many nations have their version on what happened. And this also happens quite intensely within a nation. Supposedly George Patton didn't always like the way things came down. And Douglas MacArthur was also held back from much of what he'd like to have done.
Yes, it's so much easier to speak of fiction ...as we can read it, and it usually only has one source, so we can reread it for the facts.
That sort of brings me to the comic books I read 30 years ago or so. The Infinity Quest ...Infinity Gauntlet ...Infinity Wars.
'Infinity' typically means beyond comprehension ...or as Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story said, "To infinity ...and beyond!"
No comments:
Post a Comment