Keynote Address for the Induction of Members into the
Honor Societies
Phi Alpha Theta
and Pi Sigma Alpha
at
The World of Us; Not Them and
Me:
The Study of History and Political
Science
and It’s Importance in Understanding One
Another.
Why?
The most common word a History or Political Science major is familiar
with. The desire to know and understand
begins early in the self-centered world of a child and gradually evolves to the
world of other people as an adult. From
an early age one understands that the simple word “why” is not so simple, but
rather the initial key to unlocking various realms of discovery.
Each of us has had a mentor or
mentors who first presented us with this ultimate key; who rather than tell us
the answer told us to find out the information for ourselves. Who gave the dreaded line, “Look it up.” For me, as I’m sure for many of you, my
initial push onto this journey was from my father who told me to “look it up,
read a book, and discover the truth for myself; rather than rely on someone
else to tell me the information.”
Unwittingly, my father instilled a love of, what I would only learn
later was the academic discipline called “history,” and gave me my first lesson
in Historical Methodology; decades before any undergraduate senior seminar or
graduate school course, and began me on my life-long pursuit of historical
journeys and experiences. Unfortunately
these journeys often came at the detriment of my other studies; particularly
those completely unnecessary math and science courses. He only realized later what he had done when
I informed him that I was going to major in History in college. His reaction, as I’m sure many of your
parents’ reactions was, “What!” followed, once again that ever present word
“why! Why are you going to major in
that? What are you going to do with that
major?” Hopefully, you were better
prepared for that question, at the time, than I was! My response now (and granted not much help to
you anymore) is “Why not choose the study of History or Political Science as
ones life pursuit.” Granted you will not
make millions of dollars, your significant other will often stare at you as
though you are teaching an 8am Monday morning class on the first day back from
a college break, and future job position interviews are often handled with less
decorum than feeding time at the local cattle yard, but these are secondary
problems when placed among the benefits the study of History and Political
Science offers.
At a time when historical
understanding is at an all time low; when the United States is currently
involved in military, and some would claim semi-imperialistic, situations in
Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Israel, Afghanistan, among others; when we attempt to
guess the ideology and loyalty of a person based on the color of their skin,
nationality, or religion; Now, as never before, is the time that a better
understanding of other cultures is not only practical, but could possibly be
life saving. Now is the time to
understand other cultures and societies; not to destroy them, for as any basic
understanding of history demonstrates past great empires have fallen before far
weaker military opponents. To learn
about cultures and civilizations and perhaps alleviate problems before we are
forced to utilize military or other drastic alternatives is the ultimate goal
of History and Political Science. The
study of the past is simply the study of humanity. Society cannot understand a culture without
first understanding their history and political institutions and understanding
why they may think or act in a particular way.
For in its simplest sense, as Robert V. Daniels wrote:
History
is simply the memory of human experience.
If it is forgotten or ignored, we cease in that measure to be
human. Without history we have no
knowledge of who we are or how we came to be, like victims of collective
amnesia groping in the dark for our identity.
It is the events recorded in history that have generated all the
emotions, the values, the ideals that make life meaningful, that have given men
something to live for, struggle over, die for.
Historical events have created all the basic human groupings---
countries, religions, classes---and all the loyalties that attach to
these. History is a source of
inspiration, as it holds up to us the tradition and the glory, the clashing
passions and heroic exploits of past generations. In it we find the drama and true life.
The fact that each of you in this
room today has chosen to undertake the study of history and political science
as your life’s pursuit speaks volumes about you, not only as a student, but
rather as an individual and member of humanity. You have decided that an understanding of
other cultures, other peoples, is more important that simple material rewards.
For is anything more noble than attempting to, not only know the facts about
other peoples, but to truly understand the very essence of each other? History and Political Science are at their
very foundations the study of the evolution, achievements, failures,
passions---in essence everything that makes men and women human: humanity at its finest and at times at its
worse. How can we figure out how to
improve a situation if we do not know and understand what caused the problem in
the first place?
Any student of history and Political
Science is a student of humanity. We may
disagree at to which approach is best:
period, geography, methodology, etc, but these are all academic
semantics and superficial façade (contrary to the often heated debates at
conferences, faculty meetings, and classroom discussions.) These differences are not only present, but
they are necessary. For without this
variety of fields of study the historical and political puzzle would be grossly
incomplete.
Each of you has chosen to undertake
this most noble of endeavors. The fact
that you have succeeded at
As a student within this department
you have received an opportunity your colleagues at larger universities have
not. Rather than being instructed by
graduate students or with dozens of other students in a class you had the
opportunity to be taught, guided, and at times, pushed by an outstanding and
very demanding faculty. Within this
department you were never able to slide by, hide in the corner, but have been
pushed and struggled from freshman year to be the best history and political
science majors possible.
Like you, I too was trained in this
department, by many of these esteemed faculty members and know the rigors and
obstacles they presented to you. Some of
you, like I, may have taken, in your opinion, a fantastic final independent
study paper on “Humility in Medieval
Monasticism” only to have it returned with the comment, “Bernard of
Clairvaux may be useful here.” When I,
as the professional I at the time thought myself deemed otherwise, I handed in
a slightly revised second “final” paper and was quickly handed back the paper
with, “Check out Bernard of Clairvaux, he may have some importance in this
area” written on the cover. Again, in my
opinion, Bernard was not that important and so I turned in what I was sure, was
my final draft, only to have it returned, written in red, underlined, and
boldly stated, “ADD BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX.”
Needless to say, I experienced a medievalist epiphany and realized that
perhaps Bernard of Clairvaux might have some use in my paper after all. Professionally I learned that to be a good
teacher you do not need to stand straight –laced at the front of the room,
giving omnipotent wisdom in the air hoping students would reach up and catch
it, but learned that a teacher could simply sit among his students, at times
even sit on the Audio-Visual shelves and discuss the Vietnam War and America in
the Sixties. I also learned that,
perhaps, in the future I should check the sturdiness of said shelf so that it
doesn’t collapse with me on it during my discussion of the Vietnam War.
Now, as a teacher myself, I understand, and I am sure you will
one day, too, that they placed these obstacles and challenges before me to make
me you better student, and not to make my life miserable as believed at the
time.
But teachers are only as good as the
students they teach. You are the History
and Political Science Department. You
will take your training and experiences from this department into whatever
future career you choose. We, your
friends, family, teachers, and colleagues, are here to honor you as outstanding
students and individuals. Your hard work
and intellectual accomplishments have earned you a place among the most
outstanding students of history and political science in the nation. You are first among your peers. As Phil Alpha Theta’s Mission Statement
states:
We are a professional society whose mission is to
promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good
teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.
We seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual
and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and
publication by our members in a variety of ways.
You have been selected as the premier History and Political
Science students—not only for you academic accomplishments, but for your
passion to the study of history and political science and the dedication you
have demonstrated in your individual coursework, research, and writing within
these academic fields.
Today you are receiving an honor, but
an honor that comes with responsibility:
a responsibility to take your training and help others understand the
importance of the past and better accept other cultures. You may choose to do this as a professional
historian, political scientist, educator, writer, or any other career path you
may choose, but if nothing else you must use your passion and understanding of
history and politics to remain involved and knowledgeable in the world around
you. For the events of today is the
history of tomorrow. Remember the
lessons learned from the past and let them guide you in your future endeavors
and decisions; be it as President of the Untied States deciding upon invading a
country or as parent teaches their child.
I strongly believe less horror would take place within the world if a
stronger understanding of the past and political institutions were
present. For we are all related; each of
us: European, African, Asian; Muslim
Christian, Jew, Hindu; American, Iraqi, North Korean; man and woman...we are
all members of Humanity. As members of Phi
Alpha Theta and Pi Sigma Alpha you have been charged with the task of
illuminating this fact to your world. Is
this a daunting task, yes, but it is simply another obstacle placed before you
by your teachers (one which has been presented before us by our mentors as
well) For as newly inducted members of Phi Alpha Theta and Pi Sigma Alpha, you
have demonstrated that your are not only well prepared for this task, but have
the desire and dedication necessary to carry out the challenge, and hopefully,
improve upon the world with your contributions.
Congratulations and enjoy the journey and experiences which
lie before you.