0910AW 同主题写作第六期 ISSUE221 by tmytgzzxy

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提纲：演讲者强调历史的主要功能是打破了人们这样的幻想：不同时代的人们是有很大差异的。我认为不同时代的人们有很多共性，了解这些共性是学习历史的一个很重要的功能。但是我在两点上不同意作者的观点：1 不同时代的人们有很多差异，这些差异让我们理解人类的发展变化；2 学习历史还有很多其他同样重要的作用

The speaker asserts that breaking down the illusion that people in different times are significantly different. I concede that people in different times have many similarities which can help modern people to learn the nature and essential of human beings deeper. However, I tend to disagree the speaker in two respects as talked below.
I agree with the speaker that the study of history benefits us by breaking down the illusion that people in one period of time is significantly different from the people who lived at any other time and acknowledging the common characters . After all, the nature of people in different eras stays constant all through the history. For example, the chase for freedom and democracy, the longing of love and truth, are the unchangeable pursuit both in the past and at present, even in the future. These similarities instruct us that dictatorship is dangerous and reverse the tide of history. Government should pay more attention to citizens’ rights and protect their freedoms, only in this way the society can get rapid and sustainable development. The study of history also lets human beings know the great value of love, and promote us to be nice to parents, loyal to lovers and devout to friends. By learning history, we realize the similarities between people in different epochs, which help contemporary government to formulate policies and guide modern people to set correct world outlook and views on life.
Though the statement has many merits, it is indispensable in two respects. First, people in different times change a lot in some aspects with the development of history. One apt illustration involves the transition of women’s position. As we know, man was superior to woman in the ancient time. They had no access to accepting education and work, what they can only do is to do all the housework, to assist husband and bring up children. To the contrast, women have equal rights to men in the modern times. They can go to school and have jobs and get the same payment as men. This example strongly support the point that people in one period of time is different from people at other times. Learning history can help us
be aware of the differences, and discard their dross and select their essence. Secondly, the study of history has many other functions besides the function that the speaker claims, which are equally significant. History can instruct human beings the laws of the historical development and help us to avoid repeating yesterday’s mistakes. For instance, in late Qing Dynasty, the feudal rulers implemented a seclusion policy which hampered the country’ development and lead to poverty. This historical lesson tell us that turning away from outside world would make the nation fall behind from others, so contemporary leaders adopt the opening up policy, thanks to the policy, the nation has undergone an earth-shaking changes. In short, the history is constantly changing to some extent. Learning these differences enables us to know the history more precisely and comprehensively.
In the final analysis, learning history acknowledges populace know the constant characters in different ages, which helps us to set right value on life. History also has the function to show us the changes and many other likely vital functions.