Zinn, Becker, and Stearns

The three, though having different views on history, all agree we must understand what history is.  Becker wants to reduce history to its lowest terms and understand the context of a situation.  Stearns suggests we should study history because if we do not then we cannot participate as a productive member in a society.  Zinn wants people to understand and respect history because he wants the context of a situation to be told and learned by people.  Why this battle happened and what the soldiers on each side were thinking of before fighting.  Each view is valid but if we can be taught history in these manners then people would be given a more clear picture of events said and done. As well as, hopefully, have a better understanding of the past and what repeating those actions can do to us, as a people and as a nation, in the future.