issue 48, 恳请大家拍砖，让砖头来得更猛烈～

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Issue 48
"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten.

When thinking of American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln's name flashes in our minds in the first place; and when discussing the development of modern science, we are never begrudged to give our credits to the single person, Galileo. In fact, in the study of history, we are so used to brand each historical event with an individual name. Nevertheless, as the speaker asserts, history places too much emphasis on individuals, when in most of the cases, it is the general public made the history.

Emphasizing the feats of historical individuals is understandable when studying history, since certain historical heroes did play a key role in all kinds of human endeavors. There is an ancient Chinese proverb goes, history made the heroes. History is replete with examples where the famous few help to save or propel the development of human society. If it were not for Martin Luther King, black people might still be interned at the back of the buses with no human rights as white people serve. If it were not for Einstein, it might take long before we could explore the truth of the universe. And if it were not for Sun Wen, Chinese people might still be innocent about democracy and the right of people. We should remember the name of these famous few, since they have indeed played a key role in the societal evolution.

However, an undue emphasis on the famous few, as it is already the case in most of the history studies today, has serious counterproductive effects on the society, such as individual worship. China's Cultural Revolution is a good case in point. Chinese people today still refuses to look back at the ten miserable years during 1960s to the 1970s, and it has been named Cultural Revolution. After achieving self-independence leading by Chairman Mao in 1949, China started to develop its long neglected industry. It is true that Chairman Mao did contribute tremendously to the foundation of People's Republic of China, he is not the only one to thanks to, the numerous died bodies on the battlefield have sacrificed for the victory of the war. However, there is an unnecessary worship of him at that time, which seems rather ridiculous today. People read his so-called "Proverbs" everyday, just like Christians pray before each meal, they regard everything said by Chairman Mao as right with no doubt. Thus, when Mao started the Cultural Revolution, people followed him without hesitation, killing and torturing uncounted scholars at that time, leaving the most painful chapter in the Chinese history. And all the tragedies were attributed to the extended emphasis of Chairman Mao's leadership.

After all, history is made by people in general, this assertion is undisputed as it is. Numerous wars and conflicts traced down from tribal times till today are the motivations of the societal evolution. Though there have been eminent leaders such as Washington or Churchill, the real contribution is made by the people buried with blood from the battlefield. When we commemorate Washington for his leadership during the American Independence War, we sometimes neglect those who have sacrificed their young and flesh lives leaving no trace in the flood of history. Even in the field of physical science where individual contribution is always emphasized to the fullest, no huge invention or discovery is solely achieved by one individual with not reference to their mighty predecessors. It is just as Newton claimed, as I paraphrase here, If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants. Fortunately, people today have started to realize the feats of groups of people. We are penning down the name of every victim during the Iraq War on the memorial stone, not to let their names be forgotten. People go to visit the Memorial Hall of Nankin Massacre to memorize all those dying in the Second World War to not let their sacrifices to be in vain.

In sum, history is made by groups people as the speaker contends. It is undeniable that certain individuals are responsible for some significant historical achievements, however, it is through the efforts and sacrifices of groups of people that our human society has came to its lively being today. It is our duty to remember those famous few who led us to survive and thrive, and more importantly, to remember those groups of people, who are truly responsible for the overall human evolution.