Tuesday, May 5, 2009

American Experience: We Shall Remain

PBS is airing the series We Shall Remain on American Experience.  This amazing but under publicized and under reviewed series tells the history of America since the arrival of Europeans from the perspective of Native American Indians. 

I have long had an interest in history, especially American history and consider myself to be fairly well read.  I am shocked to realize how little we have been taught about the real story that is American history.  History has always been written by the victors but over time a more balanced view of that history usually emerges.  So far that really hasn’t happened in the United States

We denounce those who deny the holocaust and demand that other countries meet our human rights standards but hide our own history of genocide.  We deliberately destroyed cultures older, more sophisticated and certainly more in harmony with nature than that which we were importing from Europe

The first four episodes have aired and the final episode will air on Monday, May 9th.  The entire series will be available online at www.pbs.org.  This outstanding program should be required viewing for all high school history students.  I hope you will take the time to watch, learn and discuss with your family and friends. 

American Experience:  We Shall Remain

    After the Mayflower

Tecumseh’s Vision

The Trail of Tears

Geronimo

Wounded Knee