The June 11 letter writer who questioned why he should believe anything a college historian tells him is asking the wrong question.
Letter of the day (June 15): History lessons
June 15, 2011 at 2:39AM
The original commentary by Jack Schneider ("History bends in the hands of ideologues," June 10) was not focused on the veracity of anyone's historical claims (Sarah Palin's included) but rather on the danger in the use of history by politicians and public figures of all stripes.
This is a frequent strategy by those in power -- to assert that they are on the correct side of history, or are following the one true path.
It can be as benign as Palin's claim that Paul Revere was asserting Second Amendment rights or it can be something more awful, like Osama Bin Laden's claim that he practiced the one true Islam.
With or without a time machine at one's disposal -- as the letter writer said was necessary for knowing history -- citizens must be have the knowledge and opportunity to question any public figure who claims history's heroes as supporters.
The question is not why should one believe a historian, but rather why a public figure is using this particular bit of history -- true or not.
MARY VOIGT, ST. PAUL
