issue48 永不言弃第十一次作业 by stgzhao 7#

stgzhaoUID: 2583165

TOPIC: ISSUE48 - "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."
WORDS: 660          TIME: 00:54:23          DATE: 2009-2-16 23:19:08

Position: 大负小正。历史是由群众和历史人物共同构造的，但是个人在其中起到了重要作用。
1. 对历史的研究很容易将重点放在个体上。但是也有侧重于群众的研究。
2. 诚然，我们不能否认实现那些伟大想法、为历史人物提供支持的是常常被忽略的群众。
3. 某些历史人物对历史的推动作用是巨大的。
4. 群众在历史上也常常扮演阻碍的角色。例如对艺术与哲学的理解（梵高和苏格拉底）
5. 从个体的研究可以启发群体。

The speaker asserts that 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. I disagree with the assertion in both two aspects. The study of history focuses both on the individuals and on the groups of people. However, in my opinion it is the elites who made the significant events and trends in history possible instead of the groups of people whose identities the speaker thinks have long been forgotten.

To begin with, I disagree with the point that the study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. According to my experiences, history teaches us not only famous individuals but also the effect of people. It is true that Cromwell contributed a lot to the establishing of capitalism in Britain, however, it is the groups of people who overthrow the very him when Cromwell tended to be the emperor himself. All this comes from history textbook of mine, which serves as a good example that nowadays the study of history emphasis both on individuals and people.

Admittedly, it is often the groups of people who support the great ideas and significant events and trends in history. Suppose it, how could Roman Empire sweep away the Europe continent without thousands and hundreds of slavers' servicing and how could Louis the 16th sent to the guillotine without the force of people in the revolution. History without the groups of people is like a general without soldiers - with no doubt it cannot moves forward.

Nevertheless, the elites in history are the ones who make the most significant events and trends in history possible. Ordinary people are only accessories overshadowed by the great minds of the elites in history. Achievements in arts, philosophy and so forth have little to do with ordinaries. It is the great minds of the elites that push the human history move forward and contributes to the movement mostly. George Washington, first president of the United States, made great contribution to the foundation of the federal. Deng Xiaoping, who has been printed on the surface of the times and is a great leader of China that is even more well-known in the world than Chairman Mao, creates proper way for the tremendous improvement taking place in China all most by himself. In face of these substantial cases every thoughtful man cannot deny the contribution to history made by the famous few.

Ironically, ordinary people, who the speaker treats as anonymous heroes are often act as obstacles to some of the advanced thought, perhaps especially for Vincent Van Gogh, whose understanding of painting is accepted by the majorities after his death caused partially by famine and misunderstandings. In the way of abolishing slavery people acted as encumbrance as well, which even acted as an inducement to the American Civil War. Because of their ignorance and human nature for keeping convention, ordinary people used to be unable to understand those great minds and therefore cause tragedies happen.

Last but not least, by the study of the famous few in history we can get the knowledge of how these ordinary people grew to become elites for their countries and the entire human society. Therefore we modern people can learn from their talented thoughts and their trajectories to famous. By enlightening ordinary people we make our society move forward faster and smoother.

In sum, even I admit the groups of people did contribute to history a lot, I disagree with the state that 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. On the contrary, I believe it is the elites that made today's human life and it will be the elites that construct our future.