Consequences of Ignorance of History
M. Orhan Tarhan
June 11, 2007
The success of a country’s foreign policy depends to a great extend upon the thorough knowledge of its people on the history, geography, and culture of foreign countries. The lack of such knowledge usually leads to foreign policy catastrophes.
I made my high school education in Turkey. During the entire seven years, we studied not only Turkish history and geography, but also world history and geography. We had no electives and everyone had to take all the courses. At the 6th grade we started with the ancient history of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, and Rome, in 7th grade we took the middle ages, in 8th grade the modern times, and in 9th grade, Turkish history. In the higher classes the same thing was repeated much more thoroughly and in 12th grade we had the history of the Turkish Revolution (1919 – 1923). Thus, most Turkish high school graduates were pretty knowledgeable on the history of most countries, including the United States.
When my children started to go to American schools, I was horrified to notice that they were learning almost no World history. They learned only American history. My son, who now is in his 50s, is telling me that they learned a little bit about English history, and the Renaissance, that was about it. World history courses are of course available, but they are electives, and a student may graduate without taking any. Recently, my grand daughter who is a very advanced student, took many elective World history courses, but the majority of high school graduates have no idea about the World. When my wife and I were in Buffalo, NY. in the 1950’s, some people asked us whether we wear shoos in Turkey and whether there are vegetables there. When I first joined Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Research Department, a young PhD came to my room, my room mate introduced me to him. He said “Mr. Tarhan is from Turkey”. The young PhD said “Oh yes, Turkey, isn’t that country North of Hungary?” I had to draw the map of Europe on the black board, and place Turkey and Hungary on their proper places. Surprised and possibly embarrassed, the PhD asked me whether I was a history and geography major. “No, I said, only a Turkish high school graduate”.
When these people grow up and become congressmen, Senators, or Presidents, they make decisions concerning foreign countries without knowing anything about them. They cause the loss of thousands of American lives, and the expenditure of billions of dollars, because their decisions were based on ignorance.
A good example is the Iraq war. We occupied a secular unitary republic saying that we will make it more democratic and more friendly to the United States. The new constitution
Is Islamist, (i.e., non-democratic) the Iraqis who were friendly at the beginning are now asking the U.S. to leave, and after we leave, Iraq may split in three. We really made a mess out of Iraq, all because of our ignorance, and not knowing it.
An other sad example is our relation with Turkey. The Bush administration has dreamed of a “Greater Middle East Initiative” in which Turkey would be a model to Arab countries as a “Mildly Islamic Country”. They wanted to show that Islam and democracy can co-exist. That is of course absolutely false. The present religious ruling government who swore to abide by the secular constitution was pleased to bring in more religion to the state, but the secular majority of Turkey was horrified. Did America want to roll back the reforms of Ataturk? Turkey is a secular republic. It cannot be even mildly Islamic, just as one cannot be mildly pregnant. Lately millions of peoples gathered in huge meetings just to say that “Turkey is secular, will stay secular”. The majority in these meetings were women. Turkish women do not want to give up their freedom. I do not blame them. It is so ironic that the United States that believes in the separation of church and state, proposes to undo this system for an ally. I am sure that none of the neo-cons who cooked up this cockamamie initiative had the slightest idea of what Turkey went through to get rid of the influence of Islam in state affairs. Turks certainly will not want to turn back the clock. America now finds itself defending Islam (Even so mildly) against a Turkish majority of modern-minded Western people. Guess what now Turks think of America? These are the same Turks who were staunch friends of America only ten years ago.
If the United States was a banana republic, it would not matter what we don’t know about the World. But we are a Superpower, still the only one, and the world expects us to exercise some reasonable leadership. But how can we exercise any leadership if we don’t know anything about the World?
I think, ignorance is our greatest enemy, I would dare say, worse than Osama bin Laden.
The solution is very simple: We should start teaching World history and geography in our public schools, not only as electives, but as obligatory subjects. Perhaps in a generation or so our politicians would become more knowledgeable of foreign affairs and we would not be wasting those billions and the lives of our soldiers for unnecessary wars. And until that happens, may God help us.
In my profession of chemical engineering, a person must pass a pretty tough examination to be allowed to practice that profession for the public. One can be hired by a company without any examination, if the company is convinced by interviews that one possesses
the required knowledge. I had to pass such tests in Pennsylvania and got a license in Maryland. If our society wants to be sure of the qualifications of a chemical engineer, why shouldn’t it make sure that a politician, who decides for war and peace for us, is also qualified? I think, any one who wants to run for Congress, the Senate, or the White House, should pass a tough test on World history and get a license. Without it, he can do
a lot more harm than an ignorant chemical engineer can.
I made my high school education in Turkey. During the entire seven years, we studied not only Turkish history and geography, but also world history and geography. We had no electives and everyone had to take all the courses. At the 6th grade we started with the ancient history of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, and Rome, in 7th grade we took the middle ages, in 8th grade the modern times, and in 9th grade, Turkish history. In the higher classes the same thing was repeated much more thoroughly and in 12th grade we had the history of the Turkish Revolution (1919 – 1923). Thus, most Turkish high school graduates were pretty knowledgeable on the history of most countries, including the United States.
When my children started to go to American schools, I was horrified to notice that they were learning almost no World history. They learned only American history. My son, who now is in his 50s, is telling me that they learned a little bit about English history, and the Renaissance, that was about it. World history courses are of course available, but they are electives, and a student may graduate without taking any. Recently, my grand daughter who is a very advanced student, took many elective World history courses, but the majority of high school graduates have no idea about the World. When my wife and I were in Buffalo, NY. in the 1950’s, some people asked us whether we wear shoos in Turkey and whether there are vegetables there. When I first joined Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Research Department, a young PhD came to my room, my room mate introduced me to him. He said “Mr. Tarhan is from Turkey”. The young PhD said “Oh yes, Turkey, isn’t that country North of Hungary?” I had to draw the map of Europe on the black board, and place Turkey and Hungary on their proper places. Surprised and possibly embarrassed, the PhD asked me whether I was a history and geography major. “No, I said, only a Turkish high school graduate”.
When these people grow up and become congressmen, Senators, or Presidents, they make decisions concerning foreign countries without knowing anything about them. They cause the loss of thousands of American lives, and the expenditure of billions of dollars, because their decisions were based on ignorance.
A good example is the Iraq war. We occupied a secular unitary republic saying that we will make it more democratic and more friendly to the United States. The new constitution
Is Islamist, (i.e., non-democratic) the Iraqis who were friendly at the beginning are now asking the U.S. to leave, and after we leave, Iraq may split in three. We really made a mess out of Iraq, all because of our ignorance, and not knowing it.
An other sad example is our relation with Turkey. The Bush administration has dreamed of a “Greater Middle East Initiative” in which Turkey would be a model to Arab countries as a “Mildly Islamic Country”. They wanted to show that Islam and democracy can co-exist. That is of course absolutely false. The present religious ruling government who swore to abide by the secular constitution was pleased to bring in more religion to the state, but the secular majority of Turkey was horrified. Did America want to roll back the reforms of Ataturk? Turkey is a secular republic. It cannot be even mildly Islamic, just as one cannot be mildly pregnant. Lately millions of peoples gathered in huge meetings just to say that “Turkey is secular, will stay secular”. The majority in these meetings were women. Turkish women do not want to give up their freedom. I do not blame them. It is so ironic that the United States that believes in the separation of church and state, proposes to undo this system for an ally. I am sure that none of the neo-cons who cooked up this cockamamie initiative had the slightest idea of what Turkey went through to get rid of the influence of Islam in state affairs. Turks certainly will not want to turn back the clock. America now finds itself defending Islam (Even so mildly) against a Turkish majority of modern-minded Western people. Guess what now Turks think of America? These are the same Turks who were staunch friends of America only ten years ago.
If the United States was a banana republic, it would not matter what we don’t know about the World. But we are a Superpower, still the only one, and the world expects us to exercise some reasonable leadership. But how can we exercise any leadership if we don’t know anything about the World?
I think, ignorance is our greatest enemy, I would dare say, worse than Osama bin Laden.
The solution is very simple: We should start teaching World history and geography in our public schools, not only as electives, but as obligatory subjects. Perhaps in a generation or so our politicians would become more knowledgeable of foreign affairs and we would not be wasting those billions and the lives of our soldiers for unnecessary wars. And until that happens, may God help us.
In my profession of chemical engineering, a person must pass a pretty tough examination to be allowed to practice that profession for the public. One can be hired by a company without any examination, if the company is convinced by interviews that one possesses
the required knowledge. I had to pass such tests in Pennsylvania and got a license in Maryland. If our society wants to be sure of the qualifications of a chemical engineer, why shouldn’t it make sure that a politician, who decides for war and peace for us, is also qualified? I think, any one who wants to run for Congress, the Senate, or the White House, should pass a tough test on World history and get a license. Without it, he can do
a lot more harm than an ignorant chemical engineer can.
Print
Email
