Is it wrong to re-write history?

The original Mayflower Compact read as follows



In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten, ye loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord King James by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, %26amp; Ireland king, defender of ye faith, e%26amp; Haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of god, and advancemente of ye Christian faith and honour of our king %26amp; countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly %26amp; mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant %26amp; combine our selves togeather



This is what we see in the history books our children read



We whose names are underwriten, ye loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord King James by of Great Britaine, Franc, %26amp; Ireland king, Haveing undertaken, a voyage to plant ye first colony

Is it wrong to re-write history?
I've never seen that in a history book.

Maybe you just live in an area where they choose really bad books for your kids.
Reply:That's not re-writing it. That's just selectively quoting....and depending upon the purpose of the lesson using it, may be perfectly appropriate. Context, context, context.



BTW, what the heck do you mean by "This is what we see in the history books our children read"? Are you really suggesting that every child in America (I'm presuming you're American) learns from the same book????? Or are you just being deliberately inflamatory with gross generalizations?
Reply:Well, history is all relative. Sometimes it's rewritten to change the context and to mislead. But, every now and again, words can be re-arranged for clarification.



This passage, the first version, is very hard to read, so it's possible that the textbook publisher made an editorial decision to simplify the language.
Reply:Yes, it is wrong to omit such important content.



That's just one reason why I send my kid to a private Christian school.
Reply:Yes
Reply:fundies did that already for their own convenience. they have their own version of history as well as the Bible.
Reply:And your point is what?



To start with, rewriting history would be a lie. OTOH, it isn't wrong to tell history from different viewpoints.

For example, to say that all native Americans willingly gave up their land to settlers would be a lie. But to tell history from the viewpoint of both settlers and Indians would be more accurate than just telling it from one side.



What I think you are trying to get at is that you think this country was founded on Puritanic principles and that the Constitution's prohibition against a state promoted religion is wrong. The Mayflower Compact was written for Puritans - not Americans.
Reply:That is so wrong!



I HATE when educators lie to kids.



(BTW, I'm a PC-loving atheist.)



They were believers; pretending they weren't is just wrong. Disgusting!
Reply:God is helping me to write a book that will force mankind to re-write history as we speak.
Reply:Yes. If it happened, it should be recorded the way it happened.
Reply:whats the question?
Reply:You're right...there is no need to re-write history, and it should be taught how history really happened.



What I wonder is, why no high school history class will go into detail on Article 11 of the Treaty with Tripoli.



I also don't see the necessity in re-writing our Pledge of Allegiance....nor the necessity to include religious phrases on our currency.