My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse…
““My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse, judge, condemn Columbus in absentia. It is too late for that; it would be a useless scholarly exercise in morality. But the easy acceptance of atrocities as a deplorable but necessary price to pay for progress (Hiroshima and Vietnam, to save Western civilization; Kronstadt and Hungary, to save socialism; nuclear proliferation, to save us all) - that is still with us. One reason these atrocities are still with us is that we have learned to bury them in a mass of other facts, as radioactive wastes are buried in containers in the earth. We have learned to give them exactly the same proportion of attention that teachers and writers often give them in the most respectable classrooms and textbooks. This learned sense of moral proportion, coming from the apparent objectivity of the scholar, is accepted more easily than when it comes from politicians at press conferences. It is therefore more deadly. ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote warns that treating historical atrocities as mere footnotes, justified by progress, normalizes moral complacency and makes scholarship a dangerous veil for denial.
In simple terms: Ignoring past crimes as necessary for progress hides moral truth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and confront historical wrongs directly.
Themes
history
ethics
memory
politics
education
Mood
critical
reflective
somber
Type
analytical
ethical
historical
When to use this quote
- University curricula
- public policy debates
- media coverage
- museum exhibits
Key Concepts
Moral relativism
historical revisionism
collective amnesia
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance acknowledging progress with confronting its costs?
- What responsibilities do scholars have in presenting uncomfortable truths?
A Different Perspective
Such framing can oversimplify complex events and excuse accountability.