One history.

ONE OF THE MAIN ideas of general semantics deals with map-territory relations. This idea focuses upon words as symbols replacing reality. "Just as no map can actually be the territory itself, no word can be the thing itself." (1) This concept applies to our view of history, specifically to history textbooks written for different nations.

Imagine a specific event in the past. Many people experienced this particular time. The event happened once, and only happened one way. However, not everybody views what occurred in the same way. These differing versions become apparent when examining high school textbooks from various countries. The bewildering factor is that history is concrete; there was only one possible sequence of facts. As people view these moments, the facts become skewed. Eventually, these accounts morph into books, which are taught to children after the events occurred. Therefore, generations are led to believe what they are told, but they cannot travel back in time to witness the reality. When attempting to identify the truth, a problem arises, caused by different versions of the same event. These versions are passed on so that eventually separate cultures view the same facts very differently.

An example of this phenomenon occurred during the Korean War. The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge, or 1211 Plateau, was an intense bloodbath that occurred about a year after the start of the war. The battle took place from September 13 to October 15, 1951, a few miles north of the 38th parallel in Korea. This battle was fought between UN (United Nations) and Communist forces in an effort to secure a position along a strategic line that cut across the Korean peninsula and marked the last major UN offensive in the war. (2)

From an American source, the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge was a US victory. "At daybreak on 13 October, the French and US troops stormed the last pinnacle; after thirty days of vicious fighting, Heartbreak Ridge was securely in UNC hands." (3) This source clearly explains an American victory.

From a North Korean source, the account is quite different. This view perceives the same battle as a North Korean victory: "The shining victory of the 1211 plateau proved to the world the excellent strategies of our dearly adored great leader and showed that our People's Army always wins." (3) This quote clearly identifies a North Korean victory.

In this example, two opposing versions come from two separate nations. However, only one battle was fought. The events that happened in the past cannot be changed. There was only one outcome for Heartbreak Ridge. But American children are taught that Heartbreak Ridge was a US victory, while North Korean children are taught that this battle was a US defeat. What is the truth? Who is reporting the truth? Is there an authority that determines the truth? These questions are difficult to answer because we cannot travel back to experience what actually happened.

History is continuous and unstoppable, and the details about what happened are unalterable. A widely used method for acknowledging the past is to record it. This seems simple enough, until we must transform the experiences into words. Language helps us understand the world, but language is not all-inclusive and is certainly not absolutely accurate when compared to actual events. Thus, recording history through written works can intentionally or unintentionally alter the truth. If this is repeated enough or done with different views, entirely separate accounts can be created, such as that of Heartbreak Ridge. It becomes very difficult to understand the past when multiple versions are available.

One explanation for these misunderstandings could be cultural pride. Although one event occurred, people were affected individually. If an act resulted in a loss or embarrassment, the resulting party could decide to omit that moment from their records. In the texts presented in History Lessons, each country focuses on their own history. Each text seems to portray its country in a positive light. American texts perceive their involvement in the Korean War as a helpful, liberating movement, while North Koreans identify the American forces as "invading bastards." (3) These records are tainted with opinions.

Another variable to consider is the language itself. This world is home to many different cultures that employ various dialects. While all of these languages are used for communication, they are certainly not identical when compared with each other. From English to Russian to Japanese, each language is unique and can be difficult to translate into one identical form. As history is recorded in each language, differences can appear simply because of conflicting translations.

When these facts are reviewed and these variables are accounted for, it seems reasonable to say that everyone does not perceive history the same way. This is a bit mind-boggling, because theoretically there is only one possible purpose of history: the truthful account of reality. However, once other purposes (such as opinions, nationalism, and personal glorification) enter the scene, facts become contorted and can turn into nonrealistic accounts or blatant lies. General semantics helps us understand that the written word is not the real event; the history book is not history.

REFERENCES

1. Lauer, Rachel M. "Some Basic Ideas of General Semantics." ETC Vol 58, No 2, p.195.

2. Tucker, Spencer C. Korean War. ABC-CLIO: Santa Barbara (2000), pp.239-240.

3. Lindaman, Dana. History Lessons. The New Press: New York (2004), pp.272-274.

SASHA YAKOVLEFF *

* Sasha Yakovleff, is a senior at Vermont Academy and lives in New Hampshire. He is enrolled in Conflict Resolution, a course which examines many topics found in ETC. Next year he will enter a college as yet unidentified to continue his education.