I didn’t mention the maple syrup ritual that we go through whenever we meet a
that we go through whenever we meet a
that we go through whenever we meet a fellow Canadian recently I saw a New
fellow Canadian recently I saw a New
fellow Canadian recently I saw a New Yorker cartoon picturing a little girl
Yorker cartoon picturing a little girl
Yorker cartoon picturing a little girl standing by her parents bedside in the
standing by her parents bedside in the
standing by her parents bedside in the middle of the night
middle of the night
middle of the night dad’s fast asleep but mom is bleary-eyed
dad’s fast asleep but mom is bleary-eyed
dad’s fast asleep but mom is bleary-eyed and the little girl says to her I had a
and the little girl says to her I had a
and the little girl says to her I had a nightmare
nightmare
nightmare that you and Dad woke up one morning on
that you and Dad woke up one morning on
that you and Dad woke up one morning on the wrong side of history the wrong side
the wrong side of history the wrong side
the wrong side of history the wrong side of history we’ve all heard this curious
of history we’ve all heard this curious
of history we’ve all heard this curious expression before haven’t we
expression before haven’t we
expression before haven’t we TV commentators assure us that history
TV commentators assure us that history
TV commentators assure us that history will decide history we’ll pass judgment
will decide history we’ll pass judgment
will decide history we’ll pass judgment on every political career every policy
on every political career every policy
on every political career every policy decision history’s this Authority and
decision history’s this Authority and
decision history’s this Authority and she’s not only watching our moves she’s
she’s not only watching our moves she’s
she’s not only watching our moves she’s bitching to teach us her lessons if only
bitching to teach us her lessons if only
bitching to teach us her lessons if only we could listen but of course we don’t
we could listen but of course we don’t
we could listen but of course we don’t we’re ignorant and stubborn and so as
we’re ignorant and stubborn and so as
we’re ignorant and stubborn and so as the famous saying goes we are doomed to
the famous saying goes we are doomed to
the famous saying goes we are doomed to repeat the past when the Russians invade
repeat the past when the Russians invade
repeat the past when the Russians invade Crimea or the Iranian nuclear program
Crimea or the Iranian nuclear program
Crimea or the Iranian nuclear program hits the news again some expert will
hits the news again some expert will
hits the news again some expert will insist that history teaches us what to
insist that history teaches us what to
insist that history teaches us what to do but Ken history teach us lessons I
do but Ken history teach us lessons I
do but Ken history teach us lessons I don’t think so and I’d like to try to
don’t think so and I’d like to try to
don’t think so and I’d like to try to convince you why that’s the case in fact
convince you why that’s the case in fact
convince you why that’s the case in fact I believe that it’s downright dangerous
I believe that it’s downright dangerous
I believe that it’s downright dangerous for our health to expect lessons from
for our health to expect lessons from
for our health to expect lessons from history now to judge from history’s very
history now to judge from history’s very
history now to judge from history’s very own channel on television the Nazis and
own channel on television the Nazis and
own channel on television the Nazis and Hitler provide the greatest fund of
Hitler provide the greatest fund of
Hitler provide the greatest fund of lessons for all time and we see this in
lessons for all time and we see this in
lessons for all time and we see this in our political discourse almost every
our political discourse almost every
our political discourse almost every week someone somewhere is being
week someone somewhere is being
week someone somewhere is being accused of appeasement now this word as
accused of appeasement now this word as
accused of appeasement now this word as you will know attaches to one person in
you will know attaches to one person in
you will know attaches to one person in the past Neville Chamberlain the British
the past Neville Chamberlain the British
the past Neville Chamberlain the British prime minister who with his French
prime minister who with his French
prime minister who with his French counterpart da la da signed the Munich
counterpart da la da signed the Munich
counterpart da la da signed the Munich Agreement with Hitler and Mussolini in
Agreement with Hitler and Mussolini in
Agreement with Hitler and Mussolini in September 1938 Chamberlain thought we
September 1938 Chamberlain thought we
September 1938 Chamberlain thought we had achieved peace for our time and he
had achieved peace for our time and he
had achieved peace for our time and he arrived at the airport waving this piece
arrived at the airport waving this piece
arrived at the airport waving this piece of paper well didn’t work out so well
of paper well didn’t work out so well
of paper well didn’t work out so well and a year later the devastating war
and a year later the devastating war
and a year later the devastating war began although it was Chamberlain who
began although it was Chamberlain who
began although it was Chamberlain who declared war
declared war
declared war he has gone down in tradition as the
he has gone down in tradition as the
he has gone down in tradition as the embodiment of appeasement right the
embodiment of appeasement right the
embodiment of appeasement right the biggest lesson of history others you
biggest lesson of history others you
biggest lesson of history others you must never appease ie
must never appease ie
must never appease ie talk with negotiate with recalcitrant
talk with negotiate with recalcitrant
talk with negotiate with recalcitrant States check the internet and you will
States check the internet and you will
States check the internet and you will see recent politicians from Barack Obama
see recent politicians from Barack Obama
see recent politicians from Barack Obama and David Cameron to even Teresa May
and David Cameron to even Teresa May
and David Cameron to even Teresa May photoshopped into Chamberlain’s 1930s
photoshopped into Chamberlain’s 1930s
photoshopped into Chamberlain’s 1930s suit holding the piece of paper why
suit holding the piece of paper why
suit holding the piece of paper why because in their dealings with Russia
because in their dealings with Russia
because in their dealings with Russia Iran Korea or even in the case of May
Iran Korea or even in the case of May
Iran Korea or even in the case of May with the European Union she didn’t stand
with the European Union she didn’t stand
with the European Union she didn’t stand up
up
up she didn’t bare her teeth she tried to
she didn’t bare her teeth she tried to
she didn’t bare her teeth she tried to talk to negotiate that’s a lesson of
talk to negotiate that’s a lesson of
talk to negotiate that’s a lesson of history the biggest lesson ever is that
history the biggest lesson ever is that
history the biggest lesson ever is that you must never appease even the word
you must never appease even the word
you must never appease even the word sounds creepy doesn’t it nobody wants to
sounds creepy doesn’t it nobody wants to
sounds creepy doesn’t it nobody wants to be in a appeaser who would want that
have you ever felt maybe intimidated by
have you ever felt maybe intimidated by these people who tell us about the
these people who tell us about the
these people who tell us about the lessons of history so confidently
lessons of history so confidently
lessons of history so confidently history teaches us this you know most of
history teaches us this you know most of
history teaches us this you know most of us we don’t remember our school history
us we don’t remember our school history
us we don’t remember our school history that well so we kind of think I don’t
that well so we kind of think I don’t
that well so we kind of think I don’t maybe they’re right uh-huh could be I
maybe they’re right uh-huh could be I
maybe they’re right uh-huh could be I don’t know I’ve forgotten so let’s do a
don’t know I’ve forgotten so let’s do a
don’t know I’ve forgotten so let’s do a little experiment supposing that instead
little experiment supposing that instead
little experiment supposing that instead of feeling guilty about what you don’t
of feeling guilty about what you don’t
of feeling guilty about what you don’t know you got up one morning and you said
know you got up one morning and you said
know you got up one morning and you said to yourself by golly I am going to learn
to yourself by golly I am going to learn
to yourself by golly I am going to learn history’s lessons
history’s lessons
history’s lessons where do I go for that sign me up well
where do I go for that sign me up well
where do I go for that sign me up well you will find out from the people who
you will find out from the people who
you will find out from the people who talk about history’s lessons they can’t
talk about history’s lessons they can’t
talk about history’s lessons they can’t tell you because those lessons don’t
tell you because those lessons don’t
tell you because those lessons don’t exist there is no database where we can
exist there is no database where we can
exist there is no database where we can look up immigration refugees missile
look up immigration refugees missile
look up immigration refugees missile testing and discovery history lessons
testing and discovery history lessons
testing and discovery history lessons now those people might condescendingly
now those people might condescendingly
now those people might condescendingly brush you off and say well go and read
brush you off and say well go and read
brush you off and say well go and read the history books but that’s a scam if
the history books but that’s a scam if
the history books but that’s a scam if you’ve ever read a history book you know
you’ve ever read a history book you know
you’ve ever read a history book you know it doesn’t teach lessons this is not to
it doesn’t teach lessons this is not to
it doesn’t teach lessons this is not to say that historians never tried you know
say that historians never tried you know
say that historians never tried you know back in the nineteenth and up to the mid
back in the nineteenth and up to the mid
back in the nineteenth and up to the mid 20th century they were really worried
20th century they were really worried
20th century they were really worried historians were really worried that if
historians were really worried that if
historians were really worried that if they could not produce lessons if their
they could not produce lessons if their
they could not produce lessons if their research could not generate laws of some
research could not generate laws of some
research could not generate laws of some kind they would look like a weak
kind they would look like a weak
kind they would look like a weak discipline unscientific what good would
discipline unscientific what good would
discipline unscientific what good would they be so they tried the problem was
they be so they tried the problem was
they be so they tried the problem was people could see right through these
people could see right through these
people could see right through these lessons because they could fill they fit
lessons because they could fill they fit
lessons because they could fill they fit conspicuously well with what the people
conspicuously well with what the people
conspicuously well with what the people already believed so Marxists and
already believed so Marxists and
already believed so Marxists and capitalists Christians and atheists
capitalists Christians and atheists
capitalists Christians and atheists advocates of racial purity and eugenics
advocates of racial purity and eugenics
advocates of racial purity and eugenics all said well hey history obviously
all said well hey history obviously
all said well hey history obviously proves our case so that was completely
proves our case so that was completely
proves our case so that was completely discredited the best example probably
discredited the best example probably
discredited the best example probably the last one I know of his 1968 a book
the last one I know of his 1968 a book
the last one I know of his 1968 a book called the lessons of history by will
called the lessons of history by will
called the lessons of history by will and Ariel Durant and they’d written this
and Ariel Durant and they’d written this
and Ariel Durant and they’d written this beautiful 11 volume story of
beautiful 11 volume story of
beautiful 11 volume story of civilization some of you will know it
civilization some of you will know it
civilization some of you will know it detailed history but they seemed to feel
detailed history but they seemed to feel
detailed history but they seemed to feel they needed a 100 page statement of the
they needed a 100 page statement of the
they needed a 100 page statement of the lessons of all this well what did they
lessons of all this well what did they
lessons of all this well what did they end up with they ended up saying history
end up with they ended up saying history
end up with they ended up saying history is a department of biology and the
is a department of biology and the
is a department of biology and the fundamental lessons of history are those
fundamental lessons of history are those
fundamental lessons of history are those of biology competition the survival of
of biology competition the survival of
of biology competition the survival of the fittest natural selection ok but
the fittest natural selection ok but
the fittest natural selection ok but this didn’t come from there 11 volumes
this didn’t come from there 11 volumes
this didn’t come from there 11 volumes so historians gave up on this kind of
so historians gave up on this kind of
so historians gave up on this kind of thing now I have a proposal for you
thing now I have a proposal for you
thing now I have a proposal for you my proposal is the reason that we expect
my proposal is the reason that we expect
my proposal is the reason that we expect history to teach lessons is because of
history to teach lessons is because of
history to teach lessons is because of it can
it can
it can fusion between history and something
fusion between history and something
fusion between history and something else which is tradition what do I mean
else which is tradition what do I mean
else which is tradition what do I mean by that well tradition is the past on
by that well tradition is the past on
by that well tradition is the past on wheels right the past roaring toward us
wheels right the past roaring toward us
wheels right the past roaring toward us imposing itself on us and asking us to
imposing itself on us and asking us to
imposing itself on us and asking us to believe it’s lessons every group we
believe it’s lessons every group we
believe it’s lessons every group we belong to from our family to a
belong to from our family to a
belong to from our family to a professional military religious
professional military religious
professional military religious organization we join and above all the
organization we join and above all the
organization we join and above all the state has its traditions of course the
state has its traditions of course the
state has its traditions of course the tradition is what the established
tradition is what the established
tradition is what the established members of the group want newer members
members of the group want newer members
members of the group want newer members to know and so they take elements of the
to know and so they take elements of the
to know and so they take elements of the past they fashion them together into a
past they fashion them together into a
past they fashion them together into a story and they present them to us on a
story and they present them to us on a
story and they present them to us on a platter and say this is the meaning of
platter and say this is the meaning of
platter and say this is the meaning of the past this is not bad it’s part of
the past this is not bad it’s part of
the past this is not bad it’s part of life belonging to a group but it’s not
life belonging to a group but it’s not
life belonging to a group but it’s not history I would say the tradition that
history I would say the tradition that
history I would say the tradition that the problem begins in school because
the problem begins in school because
the problem begins in school because what we study in school as history is in
what we study in school as history is in
what we study in school as history is in fact tradition it’s what the elders want
fact tradition it’s what the elders want
fact tradition it’s what the elders want the young to know about the past right
the young to know about the past right
the young to know about the past right so all across the world from Japan to
so all across the world from Japan to
so all across the world from Japan to Korea from Israel Palestine through
Korea from Israel Palestine through
Korea from Israel Palestine through Germany France to the Texas School Board
Germany France to the Texas School Board
Germany France to the Texas School Board these debates go on constantly about
these debates go on constantly about
these debates go on constantly about what should we be teaching the young but
what should we be teaching the young but
what should we be teaching the young but when you talk about what shall we pass
when you talk about what shall we pass
when you talk about what shall we pass along that’s tradition
along that’s tradition
along that’s tradition well what’s history then history is the
well what’s history then history is the
well what’s history then history is the opposite
opposite
opposite what is the past let’s think about that
what is the past let’s think about that
what is the past let’s think about that for a moment the past of course is
for a moment the past of course is
for a moment the past of course is innocent of any lessons the past is just
innocent of any lessons the past is just
innocent of any lessons the past is just all this stuff that happened right
all this stuff that happened right
all this stuff that happened right much of it horrible some of it Pleasant
much of it horrible some of it Pleasant
much of it horrible some of it Pleasant most of it forgettable but anyway it’s
most of it forgettable but anyway it’s
most of it forgettable but anyway it’s all gone so that’s the past I’ve said
all gone so that’s the past I’ve said
all gone so that’s the past I’ve said that tradition is the past hurtling
that tradition is the past hurtling
that tradition is the past hurtling toward us lobbying it’s lessons at us
toward us lobbying it’s lessons at us
toward us lobbying it’s lessons at us and saying learn this history I would
and saying learn this history I would
and saying learn this history I would say is simply the opposite history
say is simply the opposite history
say is simply the opposite history originates in us it begins when we have
originates in us it begins when we have
originates in us it begins when we have a question about the past and when our
a question about the past and when our
a question about the past and when our questions are powerful enough to animate
questions are powerful enough to animate
questions are powerful enough to animate us to greet to get the skills to go and
us to greet to get the skills to go and
us to greet to get the skills to go and investigate for ourselves then we are
investigate for ourselves then we are
investigate for ourselves then we are in history we are committing history
in history we are committing history
in history we are committing history that’s history history is our
that’s history history is our
that’s history history is our investigation of the past but because it
investigation of the past but because it
investigation of the past but because it originates with us it is in us it isn’t
originates with us it is in us it isn’t
originates with us it is in us it isn’t something that can teach us lessons
something that can teach us lessons
something that can teach us lessons right it’s something we do okay but am I
right it’s something we do okay but am I
right it’s something we do okay but am I not exaggerating to say that it’s
not exaggerating to say that it’s
not exaggerating to say that it’s dangerous to think that history teaches
dangerous to think that history teaches
dangerous to think that history teaches lessons well no I don’t think so first
lessons well no I don’t think so first
lessons well no I don’t think so first of all if we think that history is
of all if we think that history is
of all if we think that history is supposed to teach lessons and we are
supposed to teach lessons and we are
supposed to teach lessons and we are ashamed not to know them we make
ashamed not to know them we make
ashamed not to know them we make ourselves vulnerable to those who claim
ourselves vulnerable to those who claim
ourselves vulnerable to those who claim to know them that’s the first thing
to know them that’s the first thing
to know them that’s the first thing second it can be physically dangerous in
second it can be physically dangerous in
second it can be physically dangerous in the First World War the nations of
the First World War the nations of
the First World War the nations of Europe went into the conflict thinking
Europe went into the conflict thinking
Europe went into the conflict thinking they had learned the lessons of history
they had learned the lessons of history
they had learned the lessons of history from Napoleon and Clausewitz they had
from Napoleon and Clausewitz they had
from Napoleon and Clausewitz they had learned that when you have an enemy you
learned that when you have an enemy you
learned that when you have an enemy you must bring all your resources to bear
must bring all your resources to bear
must bring all your resources to bear against that enemies center of gravity
against that enemies center of gravity
against that enemies center of gravity to deliver the knockout blow
to deliver the knockout blow
to deliver the knockout blow but they don’t learn the same lessons so
but they don’t learn the same lessons so
but they don’t learn the same lessons so the problem was very soon they’re in
the problem was very soon they’re in
the problem was very soon they’re in opposed trenches and all they can do is
opposed trenches and all they can do is
opposed trenches and all they can do is pile in more soldiers and more weapons
pile in more soldiers and more weapons
pile in more soldiers and more weapons until 18 million people are dead and
until 18 million people are dead and
until 18 million people are dead and there are no winners a much better guide
there are no winners a much better guide
there are no winners a much better guide to action than the supposed lessons of
to action than the supposed lessons of
to action than the supposed lessons of history is a motto from a recent
history is a motto from a recent
history is a motto from a recent American commander-in-chief who like to
American commander-in-chief who like to
American commander-in-chief who like to say don’t do stupid
so if history doesn’t teach lessons what
so if history doesn’t teach lessons what good is it why does it matter well my
good is it why does it matter well my
good is it why does it matter well my answer to that question is it doesn’t
answer to that question is it doesn’t
answer to that question is it doesn’t matter doesn’t matter it does it doesn’t
matter doesn’t matter it does it doesn’t
matter doesn’t matter it does it doesn’t matter to everyone nothing matters to
matter to everyone nothing matters to
matter to everyone nothing matters to everyone it only matters if you care
everyone it only matters if you care
everyone it only matters if you care about the human past but you can live a
about the human past but you can live a
about the human past but you can live a happy and prosperous life without
happy and prosperous life without
happy and prosperous life without history or theoretical physics or any
history or theoretical physics or any
history or theoretical physics or any number of other things but history has
number of other things but history has
number of other things but history has its attractions first of all it
its attractions first of all it
its attractions first of all it liberates us primarily from tradition it
liberates us primarily from tradition it
liberates us primarily from tradition it allows us to think for ourselves and to
allows us to think for ourselves and to
allows us to think for ourselves and to go and investigate and find out what we
go and investigate and find out what we
go and investigate and find out what we think second democracy needs people who
think second democracy needs people who
think second democracy needs people who can think for themselves not necessarily
can think for themselves not necessarily
can think for themselves not necessarily who know a bunch of facts but who know
who know a bunch of facts but who know
who know a bunch of facts but who know what evidence is and where to find it
what evidence is and where to find it
what evidence is and where to find it where to seek it how to interpret it how
where to seek it how to interpret it how
where to seek it how to interpret it how to criticise the use of others the use
to criticise the use of others the use
to criticise the use of others the use of that evidence by others for dodgy
of that evidence by others for dodgy
of that evidence by others for dodgy so-called lessons of history and third
so-called lessons of history and third
so-called lessons of history and third it can bring us huge enrichment in our
it can bring us huge enrichment in our
it can bring us huge enrichment in our lives in our cafe and computer cages in
lives in our cafe and computer cages in
lives in our cafe and computer cages in the 21st century we can imagine only a
the 21st century we can imagine only a
the 21st century we can imagine only a fraction of life’s possibilities right
fraction of life’s possibilities right
fraction of life’s possibilities right one way to imagine them is to experience
one way to imagine them is to experience
one way to imagine them is to experience other cultures today of course another
other cultures today of course another
other cultures today of course another way is to cast our minds back to places
way is to cast our minds back to places
way is to cast our minds back to places that are very different from our world
that are very different from our world
that are very different from our world to think about different value systems
to think about different value systems
to think about different value systems different frameworks of meaning
different frameworks of meaning
different frameworks of meaning different ways of looking at the world
my friends history is obviously the most
my friends history is obviously the most fun you can have with your mind but
fun you can have with your mind but
fun you can have with your mind but because it rejects all authority over
because it rejects all authority over
because it rejects all authority over the mind it cannot
the mind it cannot
the mind it cannot the one thing it cannot do is teach
the one thing it cannot do is teach
the one thing it cannot do is teach lessons
lessons
lessons thank you
thank you
”
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