If you have never heard this passage before, it is from the book 1984, a satire about government involvement in America’s society and to what extent government power would be over our everyday lives . Essentially, this book is about continuous war, public mind control to keep power within the Inner Party Elites, and. It portrays a society that is controlled by propaganda to keep the citizens uniform in thought, opinion, and generally oppressed. Now, when I first read this book in high school, I thought there was no way America’s society would ever turn an extreme state like this. But the more I started taking classes in college, the more I started to realize that there is so much more to our country’s history that they instill in us from an early age. There are multiple narratives and point of views, but we are only shown through one person’s eyes.

            History and culture are two concepts that are very interconnected. History is important when learning about one’s moral foundation of the country, why certain events happen, and to show the progress of the country into something better. This ties closely to culture because knowing one’s history defines who we are, how we see ourselves, and how we see others.  America is considered to be a “melting pot” – which is a debatable term- because of the variety of races, ethnicities, and cultures. Yet, there is a major disconnect with our education within schools and outside of it. The school system is suppose to complement the learning that isn’t academic, such as cultural capital, how to network, pieces of information like that. But when we are taught in school only one-way perception, it overshadows the external learning because socialization has emphasized academic education as the only way to be successful in our society.

            History isn’t linear; it is way more complex than we think of because of its varying perspectives. By silencing the past, we are in a way living in ignorance because we believe what we taught is the only truth and don’t have the energy or power to find out for ourselves. Even though today’s society isn’t as extreme as the book, it is still very closely related. We are played images through television, the news, and movies “showcasing” different “versions” of American life, oversimplifying and generalizing those who aren’t part of the majority life in America.  Ignorance isn’t strength, freedom isn’t slavery, and war isn’t peace. Limiting people from learning about their personal history and others history hinders us. I believe having a worldview, even if you can’t travel, makes you appreciate your country, your heritage, and your education. It is crucial for feeling like part of a society, which makes you want to make it better.