Same Song, Different Verse

One of the most intriguing things about history is that each historical subject may be viewed from seemingly innumerable different perspectives, and it is very likely that each of these perspectives will render a different conclusion about the subject. But how can this happen? How can we study a certain event or person, do it again at a later time, and find two different conclusions?

Well, the answer is fairly simple. It's all about perspective and our changing "lenses" through which we view history. First of all, there is always a great possibility that over the course of a few years or even months that new evidence may arise regarding the topic, which has the potential to change our perspectives on the situation. For instance, for years it was taught that Christopher Columbus was the first European to land on what would become the U.S. mainland and that Columbus discovered America. However, new evidence suggests that Leif Erikson and his band of Scandinavian Vikings were more likely the first and the Columbus actually landed somewhere in the Bahamas.

Secondly, every event has at least two sides. When you view the situation from one side, you reach one certain conclusion. When you view it from the other, you get another. When you view them both together, you get a whole new picture. A great example of this is the American Revolution. When you view the Revolution through the Loyalists' eyes, you see a government struggling under the weight of war debts and a widely dispersed empire, along with the fact that many colonists were adamantly opposed any tax or tariff placed on them to help reduce the debt. When you view the Revolution from the Patriots' point of view, you see an oppressive, money-hungry king and Parliament who insist on imposing heavy taxes and strict laws without giving them a proper vote in legislative activities.

Lastly, it seems that at least every five years or so views and morals are changing on a worldwide scale, and these changes may most definitely change the way we view certain people or events in history and therefore cause us to reach new conclusions. Issues such as gay rights and abortion are major examples today. Five years ago, 44 states either had laws against or statutory bans on gay marriage. Today, it is legal nationwide. As our morals and standards for social acceptance change, so do our views of the past.

It's all about perspective.