Issue 48

TOPIC: ISSUE48 - "The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."

WORDS: 535 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-3-31 15:57:14

The speaker asserts that the most significant historical and trends were made possible by groups of people, instead of the famous few; and that the study of history should accentuate the former rather than the latter. However, in my view the arguer fails to consider a variety of distinguished individuals who have contributed profoundly to the status of historical footnote. Therefore, I concede that some certain groups of people did contribute to particular historical events. Nevertheless, the famous few should be put in the first place when we study history.

Admittedly, in history special groups of people had played a pivotal role in significant advancements--whether in politics, arts or sciences. For instance, the study of history and appreciation of arts tends to research groups of people in the Middle Ages; and researchers study the culture created by the multitudes, instead of a few famous painters or musicians. Besides, western civilization owes its very existence to Benedictine nuns, instead of a monk named FA. Just prior to and during the decline of the Rome Empire, many women fled to monasteries, bringing with them various dowries which they used to acquire artifacts and knowledge. Without these nuns, the western culture would otherwise have to be lost forever with the fall of the Rome Empire.

Nevertheless, many great individuals have contributed profoundly to the advancements of history in many realms, in which groups of people become nameless and faceless. Consider, for instance, the American Civil War conducted by Abraham Lincoln. Albeit many other people worked their own functions to the war, it is Lincoln that abolished unfair laws in the south of America and justified the rights of black people. Or consider any noble innovations in technology, almost all of which are made possible by prominent individuals. Microsoft's Bill Gates is largely responsible for the Windows series operating systems, which have extensively altered the style of life. Greatness happened in natural sciences are also achievements of special individuals, such as classical mechanics by Newton, the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein and the model of plane by Wright brothers. More importantly, no group of people played a vital role when in retrospect.

The speaker might point out that in the fields of architecture and engineering, in which groups of people were the primary force behind illustrious accomplishments--such as the Great Wall and Pyramid. Yet, it is "the famous few"--monarchs in these cases whose whims and egos were the source of power behind these great architectures. The arguer may also cite the example of various significant political activities in which innumerous groups of people participated in history. This will be easily refuted provide that these groups were leaderless ones. Without a determinant key leader, few groups of people would succeed in bringing to the masses great influences. For instance, Chinese people would have still been pressed by Japanese unless Mao Zedong led the Liberated War. Without Mahatma Gandhi, advocator of the nonviolent disobedience tactic, India would be still ruled by British.

In summary, the speaker overlooks many great individuals in history that have conduced towards a myriad of significant events and trends. Today, when studying historical matters, we can learn a lot from great figures more than learning about ordinary groups of people.