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TOPIC: ISSUE221 - "The chief benefit of the study of history is to break down the illusion that people in one period of time are significantly different from people who lived at any other time in history."
WORDS: 554
TIME: 01:31:50
DATE: 2009/7/19 22:21:06
What does the history tell us? Obviously, the history informs us the truth about the humanity's proceedings. Though there do exist several differences from different angles in different periods, I fundamental agree with the statement that the basic nature of human beings has never changed through history. And studying history actually brings about our clearly cognition to smash the illusion.
Admittedly, it is beneficial to understand and appreciate significant differences between peoples of different time periods---in terms of culture, customs, values, and ethnic heritage. These differences are defined with the stamps of the human's recognition in that stage. For example, the history provides us that the approaches to solve the problems such as conflicts between races and environmental pollution have changed a lot since the humanity's development. Besides, the attitudes changes, especially the different postures to the literature and scientific cognitive processing in different times, can be ascribed to the human evolution. The diversity in human history enriches the spiritual treasure to our own, and offers us adequate enlightened values and ideas for ourselves. Our society clearly benefits a lot.
However no matter how affluent the differences can bring about, it is more important to catch the law of history, which means more value of the guidance to human development. Mark Twain once said, history doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme. What is the 'rhyme'? As far as I am concerned, it is the basic nature of humanity. Things like our desires and motives, as well as our fears and foibles---has remained constant over recorded time. And through this realization we can benefit as a society in dealing more effectively with our enduring social problems. History teaches us , for example, greed to the fortune and power is the source of bloody battle. This truth has never changed as long as we people have the greedy desires. So the measures, such as the laws about limitation of nuke, make little effects on the long-lasting tensions in international situation. The political and economical method to bridge the chasm of different countries and build a harmonious atmosphere is the correct way.
Except the guidance of human development, through breaking down the illusion, we can avoid to repeat the same tragedy our predecessors. Knowing the same nature of our human beings, we can clearly recognize the limitation of our own. Besides, through studying history, we can summarize the experience which our ancestors leave for us, and then understand that there is nothing more changed in our deep sights. For example, the world is slowly coming to learn by studying history that political states whose authority stems from suppression of individual freedoms inevitably fall of their own oppressive weight, like the Qin Dynasty and the Rome Empire. And, Learning that the differences caused by the developing technology and culture, we can foster more responsibility to preserve the art, literature, and other cultural artifacts. We stay the same with our predecessors for not considering the splendid heritage.
To sum up, history informs us, through a long time the era has changed a lot, our human's techniques and culture enlarge a lot. But in effect, the core of humanity has never changed. This history lesson teaches us to develop compassionate responses to the problems and failings of others. And this is also the chief benefit of the study history---staying together.
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