Talking of re-writing history...
[size=18] 'Official' history angers teachers[/size]
Teachers in France have accused their government of using the tactics of dictators by enacting a law that imposes an "official history" of their country, requiring them to highlight the "positive aspects" of the French empire.
They claim the legislation ignores the torture, slavery and massacres "that sometimes went as far as genocide" and sometimes accompanied French colonialism.
The law aims to protect the reputations of "pieds noirs" - French people born in Algeria - and "harkis", Algerians loyal to France who were allowed to settle in the country when Algeria became independent in 1962. The legislation states: "School programmes are to recognise in particular the positive role of the French presence overseas, especially in North Africa, and give an eminent place to the history and sacrifices of fighters for the French army raised in these territories."
In France, teachers, professors and civil rights campaigners have petitioned for it to be repealed, stating it "imposes an official lie about the crimes, the massacres that sometimes went as far as genocide, the slavery, the racism that has been inherited from this past".
The French occupation of Algeria began in 1830 and was the start of 132 years of colonial subjugation. In the early years native Muslims and Jews were viewed as French nationals but not as French citizens.
[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/11/wfran11....
I have split this topic from [url=http://www.therevival.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?p=38688#38688]here[/url].
Very good topic.
Post before was stating the victors write the history...
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I didn't want this to have a thread of its own cos I wasn't expecting many replies.
It still is a good topic.
However is it revisionist history, when the historians have denied the truth from the start?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.