Re: Who's Perspective?

Posted by Gayle on March 11, 1999 at 13:58:33:

In Reply to: Re: Who's Perspective? posted by Rich on March 11, 1999 at 12:47:26:

: Hi Gayle -

: I missed something here ... Your quotes. I can't connect them to MM's statement. No, I'm not as sharp as I used to be! Darn!

Dear Rich,

My thinking often gets a bit rangey and esoteric, so people find it hard to connect one end of my thread to the other. Don't feel bad if you're confused. So am I ;-).

My point with those particular quotes is that people in 1919 thought of their world as the most modern America would ever get. WWI was THE GREAT WAR, and criminal punishment needed no revisions, because the tried and true system used since 1740 WORKED. Today we look at the thinking of people in 1919 (and as far back as mankind goes, actually)and believe we know far better than they how they thought and felt, despite the fact that we are NOT dealing with the daily context in which they led their lives and struggled with the developing nation. As wonderful a job as Mann did on the historical aspects of LOTM - and I don't begrudge him one bit of glory for what he created - I still get miffed when he pulls the patronizing and sanctimonious stuff. I was just curious to see what kind of discussion might result on the relative value of revising and explaining people from other places in time.

Gayle

Follow Ups:

• Re: Who's Perspective? Victoria 15:03:45 3/12/99 (1)
  • Re: Who's Perspective? Champ 18:57:50 3/12/99 (0)
• Re: Who's Perspective? Pat 19:52:05 3/11/99 (0)
• Re: Who's Perspective? Ilse 16:31:58 3/11/99 (0)
• Re: Who's Perspective? Champ 14:54:22 3/11/99 (0)

Post a Followup

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
: : Hi Gayle -

: : I missed something here ... Your quotes. I can't connect them to MM's statement. No, I'm not as sharp as I used to be! Darn!

: Dear Rich,

: My thinking often gets a bit rangey and esoteric, so people find it hard to connect one end of my thread to the other.  Don't feel bad if you're confused.  So am I ;-).

: My point with those particular quotes is that people in 1919 thought of their world as the most modern America would ever get. WWI was THE GREAT WAR, and criminal punishment needed no revisions, because the tried and true system used since 1740 WORKED.  Today we look at the thinking of people in 1919 (and as far back as mankind goes, actually)and believe we know far better than they how they thought and felt, despite the fact that we are NOT dealing with the daily context in which they led their lives and struggled with the developing nation.  As wonderful a job as Mann did on the historical aspects of LOTM - and I don't begrudge him one bit of glory for what he created - I still get miffed when he pulls the patronizing and sanctimonious stuff.  I was just curious to see what kind of discussion might result on the relative value of revising and explaining people from other places in time.

: Gayle


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL: