New to ajaban zabAn?

All this history, what is it good for?
اين همه تاريخ به چه درد مى خوره؟

History •
by Rezwan on 12/20 at 09:19 PM
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In which we ask, what is history good for? And come up with several useful suggestions. We’re open to more, of course! Chip in : )

I have to ask on behalf of the youth of today who aren’t very excited about Persian History. Despite the fact that there are video games out there featuring mythic Persian warriors slaying enemies and creatures. Do these cyber warriors pick up their trusty bows and use the Parthian (Parting) shot? We can call these “First-Persian Shooter” games.

You can always use History as inspiration for cyber worlds. See: Kingdom of Babkha

OK. History is useful as the take-off point for epic movies and video games, both of which will distort the original stories, but can be very entertaining and at least provoke people to go and find out more about the real story. My friends, there are many epic movies to be made and we are way behind schedule.

What else is history good for? I’m just asking in an open, brainstorming sort of way. Some might say history is motivating, filling one with pride about one’s heritage and encouraging excellence in the present to match the past. And so proud Iranian parents admonish their children to feel this self-evident pride.

And yet, surprisingly, the kids turn back to their video games as uninspired as ever. Why do the kids turn away? On some level it’s hard to connect to history. It happened in the past, you can’t be sure you have the whole story, a lot of it feels like myth, and then you’re expected to own it. This is your past (I wasn’t there!) These are your glories (what about the failures?). It’s abstract.

Or perhaps kids feel overwhelmed and numbed. This makes sense when you consider that Persian History involves this glorious peaking period (which happened so very long ago) when Iran was on top of the world, the big empire and all, and it’s all been whittled away at ever since.

This is unmotivating on two counts. One, it’s already been done: Rule the world? Done that. Center of culture and civilization? Been there.

Two, it’s hard to top. Yes, like the slacker sons of rich men who can never hope to achieve what dad did, we’re trying to milk the past for security and vestigal importance. Coasting on the trust fund, looking out for number one, encouraging our kids to pursue personal wealth and maintain a superficial interest in identity by, for example, hanging a pretty historical picture in the hallway for all to see.

Yes, it’s possible the adults are also stuck in the trap where they feel all is already known that needs to be known about history. The only thing left is to sit three and act all proud about it. It goes without saying we were great! It goes without studying. And anyway, if we study too closely, we might notice things we don’t like. (If the real purpose of history is just ego-stroking, then the actual study of history can be unwanted, threatening). So we send all our kids to medical school and discourage a pursuit of history or the arts.

Obviously the antidote to this slacking is to find the basis for a genuine interest in history. And the way to do this is, of course, to spend more time exploring it, discovering it, debating it, conversing with the past. What do they have to say to us now? What do we have to say to them? How can we top them? How can we learn from past inspirational leaders, and also from past mistakes? How can we leverage our historical, cultural and environmental assets to make a glorious, sustainable future for the next generation to top?

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