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History is the lie commonly agreed upon

Posted By: Chris
Date: Thursday, 21 March 2002, at 12:16 p.m.

I am a History major from the eastern United States (Mass. to be more specific). In my own lifetime, I have seen the "hard sciences" reverse themselves more than once, admit to profound uncertainty, and give credence to previously heretical ideas; Mars pre- and post- Viking, for example, and how did Allegro feel following Levy-Shoemaker? All this brings to mind a quote from a movie that is most apropos to this particular discussion; "Imagine what you will 'know' tomorrow". The mere thought that ANY scientifically- or even semi-scientifically-minded person can be 100% certain of the 'facts' of today, especially those relating to as 'soft' a science as archaeology, turns my stomach. Some members of the field of archaeology need to return to their lessons, and remind themselves of what we DO know with certainty about the past if THEY desire respect. The kind of attacks being made by orthodox 'academia' on those carefully thinking outside the box do not lend themselves to credulity. Anybody remember Schleimann? Swallowing, refining and regurgitating only what some others that have come before you as Holy Writ is not what truly intelligent academics are supposed to be spending their time doing (ref. the Socratic method). Granted, that worked fine under the enlightened overlordship of the Church and Inquisition( just ask Galileo et al), but sorry, that does not wash in the 21st century. Ask questions. Think. Please. Thank you.

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