Issue48 [Shining Sep 作文组] 8.21

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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: 528          TIME: 1:13:53          DATE: 2006-8-21

In the thousands of years of human history, the most significant events and trends were made possible by groups of people. This view is correct, and people should emphasis the contibution of groups, but overestimating and insisting on groups' power could make people to ignore the famous individual's effect to the history. In fact, the importance of the famous individuals is irreplaceable.

There are many significant events which were made by individuals, especially in the scientific fields. The basis of modern physics is the theory of relativity which was created by the famous scientist Albert Einstein. Without the contribution of Albert Einstein, the development of human would retrogress many years. Another very example is Thomas Edison, the preeminent inventor in the world, who invented many new machines and technologies. After suffering from thousands of failure, he invented the bulb successfully, and solved the problem of illumination with electricity. His wisdom, creativity and effort let human use electric light ahead of time. These two example demonstrate that the influence of individuals is indelible in history.

The importance of individuals is also proved in the competition fields. Michael Jordan, one of the most famous and greatest basketball players in the world must be known by everyone. He led the Bulls to get six championships of NBA. Without his 3-point ball at the last second, the Bulls could not beat the Jazz. Without his perfect show, the Bulls could not defeat the Lakers. He made so many impossible missions that people have to remember him. Indeed, without the team, any basketball player is nothing, but to a large extent the achievement of the Bulls was determined by Michael Jordan.

However, the power of groups also made the significant events and trends in history. For example, Great Wall in China and pyramid in Egypt is well-known all over the world. Although it is the Emperor or the Pharaoh's order to build those constructions, the real builders of those significant constructions are the two nations' people. In the past, there is no construction machine, and all work should be done only by manpower. To build those significant works, it cost several years and thousands of people's lives. It is the power of groups to accomplish those miracles. Moreover, in the political areas, the real roles are also the groups of people. Any party which could make the revolution successfully depends on people's power. It is impossible to realize the revolution without people's support. Therefore, history should not ignore the effect of groups of people.

Finally, the fact that the study of history places too much emphasis on individuals is excusable. The information of the past event only records the famous few, such as the emperors in different regions and dynasties, the leaders of some events. With these detail information of famous few, the historians can study the history more easily.

To sum up, it is not a fault that the study of history pays attention on individuals. Nevertheless, the groups of people who made the significant events and trends should not be forgotten. People should find a balance point between groups and individuals when studying history, then people would learn more from history.