As we drove to work this morning S.V. had an episode of Late Night Live as a podcast.
Phillip Adams was discussing the phrase "36 Faceless Men" and the journalist who coined this phrase - Alan (Red Fox) Reid. Thus ensured a discussion the car - checking out what it was via google and the iphone, why is it that we are not as engaged with our history as other countries are. I am amazed and horrified at my lack of knowledge on Australian history especially as I grew up in Canberra.
Is it that even if I had been taught this as a teenager would I be less engaged as I am not so into learning dates and abstract facts about historical events. Is history taught as a series of facts more than the interpersonal relationships? This for for me is far more engaging.
Or is it that as an adult I am more fascinated by the interpersonal relationships, the condition of being human, what drives people to do what they do and then the facts from these interactions and experiences.
From the small bit of reading I have done today it seems that Allan Reid, whom witnessed 20 Federal Elections, was affected by his treatment by the ALP throwing him out of the party that this really effected his writing and work.
"36 faceless Men"is such a powerful phrase. These faceless men were meant to be leading the country at the time - setting policy, not the elected APL members who were voted in by the Australian public. In the current context of the N.S.W. government it is an interesting thought - who is really running this state.
I have a lot more reading to do me thinks.......
This is a complete diversion from the current craft fun stuff and for my 897th post I thought I would digress slightly. Oh I should do a giveaway for my 900th - yes?
5 comments:
apparently australian history is only the history of fabulous white explorers discovering things and disposessing aboriginal people. well, thats what they like to teach anyway. under the surface is a very complex story of people struggling against all sorts of odds, but we dont hear those stories, because history is always written by the winners. and yes, a 900th post comp is definitely in order!
I had a great history lecturer at uni who was really into oral histories - which are often interesting insights from "ordinary" people - much more about experiences than dates.
As for who is running the country or state, well, it's rarely the elected politicians, in my opinion (no matter which side of the political spectrum they are from). But that's a whole 'nother issue!!
Due to all sorts of oddities in my education I never studied Australian history at either school or university. One of the things I love about travelling within Australia is that you find out about the role of that region in our story - whether its Aboriginal or white history.
Thank goodness for Radio National and all the incidental historical knowledge it provides us with.
900 posts! Astonishing. That definitely needs celebrating. But if you have a competition your readers benefit, not you. Doesn't seem fair (though it would be fun!)
I 'fell' for Mr Adams when I was about 20. I would listen to LNL every day after school, the repeats, and there are still moments from those afternoons I remember well twenty years on. He's a great figure.
I am with Rose Red I think we need to more Oral Histories.
Radio National provides such an amazing supplement to our histories.
I must protest that Naplan testing does not encourage the kind of learning and teaching we are talking about here - the social and humanities approach to history.
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