DANIELLE DAVID
History 151
R. Schwartz
Studying history is incredibly important since it gives one a sense of the importance of ideas—the knowledge that these ideas have many consequences that affect all that man has done in the past and all man will do in the future. The articles written by Pfaff and Stern highlight effectively the fact that history continually repeats itself and this common phrase ‘history repeats itself” has merit in that the principles derived from reality are universal and do not change with time. I believe that if we study the past we will recognize all the mistaken ideas which made society’s past disastrous and depraved, and we will recognize the ‘right’ ideas which have made society’s past positive. The articles by Pfaff and Stern discuss the past, present and the future, along with cause and effect, and the ways in which the “past controls the future.”
The articles by Stern and Pfaff show that Europe cannot escape the past, Stern states, “past continues to haunt the present” which proves that society, continues to repeat the mistakes which we have committed in the past and this is an inevitable phenomenon. Pfaff states that America is a hegemonic state and is a world power but that European Union might be the solution to the US hegemony over the entire world.
Pfaff discusses the conference in Warsaw where America fought for the encouragement of democracy in states that are not democratic such as the Middle Eastern states. However he argues that even though America controls the world basically many nations disagree with various American policies consequently this hegemony cannot carry on because many issues are, and have arisen.
After reading both the articles after having taken this class it has made me realize and discover many factors that I was previously unaware of due to my ‘new’ and more in depth knowledge of European history. The recent US actions in Iraq I believe are the most responsible for my changed opinions as well. Pfaff states, “Everyone knows that the US is a righteous nation.” However, I believe the current situation between the US and Iraq completely disproves that statement.
One of the best examples is that of the Holocaust and all the tragedies that have not only befallen the Europeans, but those that have befallen the Jewish people. This forces me to question whether we are destined to only face adversity and attempts at extermination, or whether we can hope for more. The Jews have experienced an inordinate amount of suffering and hardship going long back to the days of enslavement in Egypt, and while being slaughtered in the Holocaust, or while the Gypsies were killed, or when genocide occurred in Armenia, etc. etc. the world remained silent. History MUST teach us that we cannot continue to remain silent. During the Holocaust no one did anything to intervene and while the US and England helped win the war, they did nothing during the years ’42-’45 to stop the killings of which they were well aware. Real politik or what is regarded as motives of self-interest is what drives nations to certain actions and not altruistic ideals. History, the past as well as the present, prove how volatile such advocacy is and this holds true for the European Union.