Changing History

What I learn in school is always correct. Well, as a little elementary school student I may have believed this. But as I got older, I reliazed that this may not always be the case. Teachers make mistakes and subjects are constantly evolving. For instance, one lesson stressed in the sciences is that the "facts" we study are actually theories. Tomorrow, everything we have learned could be turned upsidedown. However, no one has ever told me that history is recorded incorrectly, nor in fact that there is no way to accurately record history.
Beowulf and Grendel were excellent examples of how there are two sides to every issue. In Beowulf, Grendel is depicted as a heinous monster. A monster that goes on killing sprees with no provocation. He is an unnatural evil thing whose death deserves to be gruesome and painful. In Grendel, Grendel is a young creature that attempts to fit into man's society. However, man is a pitiful group of braggers and so-called "heroes". Despite the fact that in Grendel mankind is something to be ashamed of, Grendel still wishes to be accepted by these great beings. When he enters a hall extending the hand of friendship, he is attacked and driven out of the hall. Is it no wonder that he retaliate? In mankind's society, such a treatment to another being would have caused a greater retaliation. What is more, it would have been expected and approved of. Instead, Grendel is painted as an evildoer. Both authors told the same story, from two different points of view. However, the stories could not have been more different.
History is very much like Beowulf and Grendel. In school, Americans learn about the great feats of George Washington and our other founding fathers. Of how our ancestors shook off the chains of England's tyrannical rule and established the wonderful country of America. English students learn how the ungrateful colonists rebelled against the great and wondrous rule of England. This is not the only example, either. Years from now, my children will learn how terrorists attacked our great nation on September 11. In foreign countries, some children will learn how freedom fighters took a daring attempt against the oppressive United States. The facts and numbers may be the same, but the change of a few adjectives, and history is completely rewritten.
So few people consciously realize the unstability of history. What people learned of history in school, people accept as cold, hard facts. One reason for this is that unlike in the sciences where we are told that not everything is 100 percent true, it is implied that everything learned in history is 100 percent true. So few in America question whether the what the colonists did was reasonable or not. However, subconsciously, people are aware of how history is not set in stone. People often wonder aloud how such and such an event will be recorded. This implies that there can be more than one view to an event. Unfortunately, not many bridge the gap between the subconscience and conscience.
Nothing can truly be done to fix history. When it comes to mankind's history, it is impossible to find an impartial account. Even if the historian has no ties to the event, the historian may have his own view, or his sources may be biased. In my examples, it can be seen how just one or two words, or even the rearranging of a sentence can change history. History is so easily influenced by those who are writing it. I believe that the only measure that can be taken against this dilemma is allowing students to know, from an early age, that history is subject to influence. We cannot change how we record history, but we can change how we view it. After this class and reading Beowulf and Grendel, I know I will veiw history differently. I will always wonder how others view the events of today's society. In this manner, I think we may be able to keep an accurate record of history. When we compare our views with others' a common ground may be reached, and that will be where true history lies.