Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

No Left Turns

European Textbooks, Revised

The Guardian ran a story about how textbooks have changed, all for the sake of trying to give a nice and peaceful unity to Europe, according to Dr. Yasemin Soysal, President of the European Sociological Association. "The Vikings have gone from being depicted as pillaging aggressors to skilful, peace-loving traders. In early editions of From Cavemen to Vikings (A and C Black), the Vikings are referred to as ’fierce raiders [who] began to attack our coasts’. But in its 1994 edition, they are described as ’Danes [who] besides being farmers, were much better at trading than Saxons. The Danes and Saxons settled down together and Saxon England became one rich and peaceful kingdom.’" The good doctor thinks this is overdone. The whole article is worth reading.

Revisionism can be pretty funny stuff. Here is Neil Gaiman’s parody of the Spanish Armada episode: "In 1588 the Spanish decided to go and visit England, in order to expand England’s trading horizons, and a whole Armada of trading vessels set out on a visit. The English were so excited, they lit bonfires and gathered on the South Coast to welcome their Spanish Visitors. They even sent ships out to meet them. Unfortunately, the silly old British weather was against the Spanish, and most of their ships were wrecked and lost before they could land, which left the English very disappointed indeed." (via Iain Murray)

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