Chapter 10 Down the Memory Hole

 First of all, the first part where Loewen contrasted the African term to how Americans perceive history was extremely interesting.
When someone is dead or some event is in the past, the textbook is the only material that is aware of the event. That gives them the power to change details for their own good without any interference. However, the more contemporary, the less textbooks have much power to change details since the people are alive and there are other people who know of them as well. I've never thought of it this way but I found it all veryvery true. Originally, I thought because the event is so recent, historians don't have much information yet and that that was why textbooks did not include much information. Also, as written in the textbook, my high school teachers always ran out of time every year when we would get closer to the end of the textbook. Obviously the end bit contains more recent information but the classes would be more in such a rush that we would never have the chance to actually give it some thought.

 *One thing
I found it a bit funny and contradictory of how Loewen says he risks using words like truth and lies on p263 when on page 265, Loewen says 'The first sentence accurately summarizes,,,' Doesn't accurately mean the same thing as correct? I don't know but that just caught my eye.

Anyways, Loewen criticizes a certain textbook that said America was 'fighting for democracy and peace.'(267) America certainly does fight for democracy and peace in a way. They advocate their own ways and fight to diminish any country that thinks otherwise. Hence the Vietnam War.
 So I guess they do fight for their own democracy and peace.
 They actually fight for democracy and peace in their own country as well. For instance, it is notorious that the Pledge of Allegiance in America contains the phrase 'One nation under god.' Although America accepts the freedom of religion, it is openly stated that the whole of America is a country under god, under christianity. I remember having to say those words every morning, but what if I were an atheist? Would I have the right to refuse to say those words? Now, allegedly I am allowed to refuse to say those lines but I would probably be subjected to glaring eyes from teachers and students just like some atheist six year olds are going through in the present. [1]
America is not the liberator. They are always the ones claiming to be the liberator when all they want to do is spread their ways around the world. World domination might not just be a joke when it involves that country.

http://11th-hour.info/Articles/Patriotism_and_the_Scriptures.html

[1] http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/02/23/when-children-of-atheist-parents-are-forced-to-say-the-pledge/