issue48 [OB小组] 第17次作业 individual and group

xiao8686UID: 2266881

TOPIC: ISSUE48 - "The study of historyplaces too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trendsin history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of peoplewhose identities have long been forgotten."
WORDS: 879          TIME: 00:36:18+30：00          DATE: 2007-7-29 14:25:36

In this issue, the author states that thestudy of history emphasize too much on individuals, neglecting theinsignificant people who are the actual cause of the tremendous events andtrends in history. I agree with the author insofar as we should pay attentionstudying the common folks whose identities have long been forgotten.Notwithstanding, the studies of the famous few do have their merits.

To begin with, any significant events andtrends in history have everything to do with both the average people and thefamous few. The former ones function as the massive force to form any trend oraccomplish any event while the latter ones function as the key role, leadingthe average folks.

First of all, ordinary people are the basicunits of the society, as long as the events or the trends involve humanactions, they are responsible for them. For example, the great wall---one ofthe only two human projects that can be seen from the moon was built bythousands of people. Such momentous projects are gradually constructed bycountless yet oblivious folks who tossed assembled and mortared the bricks.It's certainly not any emperors who determined to build this great wall andthus enabled it erected for hundreds of years. For another example, the victoryof anti-fascist war is not merely brought by the luminous political leaders ormarshals. It's those myriad soldiers, paramedics and even people whomanufactured the weapons or supplied the foods led the justice prevail the evilfinally. To sum up, any significant man-related events or trends require theparticipants of a huge number of people; therefore, they have everything to dowith these occurrences in history.  

Nevertheless, the famous few historical studieshave been emphasizing deserve the spotlights as well. As far as I am concerned,they are the crucial factor of any significant events in history since theyeither led average people or initiated the tremendous events or trends. Takethe anti-fascists war again as an example, though countless people were devotedto fighting against the fascists, those sagacious political leaders andmarshals made the decisive decision in crucial moments, hence created theopportunities to give fascists deadly beats then won the war. Without Churchill’sdecisive will in participating in the war, his inspiring speeches to encouragepeople fight against fascists, the result of the war might be utterly different.Without marshal Zhu De’s bravery and astute perceptions toward differentsituations, China may lasted much longer in battling with Japanese fascists,failing to win the indispensable victory in the far-east battle. The built ofthe Great Wall again are able to serve a cogent example, man powers arenecessary for this magnificent task. However, without the first emperor in China cogitatedto construct this defensive project the Great Wall may not be in existence atall. Meanwhile, without Qin emperor (the first emperor in feudal ear whounified China)decided to connect the inconsistent walls which were built by different kingsin different countries. Great wall could quite possible not be such asignificant project that can be observed by eyes from moon. In the realm of art,it’s the famous people’s sagacity enlightened the common folks, resulting inthe sequential some spectacular events or unprecedented trends. For instance,the artistic elites in Renaissance Time such as Da vinci, Raffeallo, and etc.are the avant-gardes whose masterpieces ignited the renaissance trend in arts hencescience. Consequently, Europe stepped into theera when science and art soared. Some great writers used their sharp and astuteeyes to observe the society then disclose the evil and appraise the beautiful.Lu Xun-the greatest writer in Chinain early 20th century used his pen portraying the sadness and numbness ofordinary Chinese, wishing they would be aware of the situation of theircountry. Inspired by his works, more young Chinese in the entire nation beganto devote themselves into the fighting against foreign invaders and constructingtheir country. It is clear the famous few are the part and parcel of anysignificant event or trend.

Furthermore, the studies of average peopleare in nature quite similar with each other. The efforts of average folks have areto assemble the force which is the drive to fulfill any event or form anytrend. They exhibited as the manpower when it comes to the construction ofmagnificent buildings. They are disguised as the collective will when it comesto any political events or rebellions. They are displayed as the major chunk ofparticipants when it comes to any artistic trends. All in all, they are innature analogous. Notwithstanding, the key factor that enable every historicalsignificance diverse are the roles those famous few played. They have todistribute different tasks, make appropriate decisions according to the currentsituations. To the artistic elites, their different brilliance inspired people indifferent ways. Therefore, the studies of ordinary people though have certainmerits are much less important than that of the famous few.

In conclusion, the average people need tobe paid certain attention since they are the necessities of any significantevent or trend. However, the famous few ought to be emphasized much more becausethey are the key components of each great occurrence in history.