By Google definition the
act of “revisionism” means: “The theory or practice of revising one's
attitude to a previously accepted situation or point of view.” This theory was
conceptualized around 1950 and may be often associated with Marxist and
political theory.
This attitude is detrimental to the progression
of society and any type of compassionate advancement. Revisionism was
exceptionally present during the Victorian Era and led to the oppression of
people outside the hetero-centric patriarch. This can be observed in the work
of Victorian authors such as Charlotte and Emily Bronte as well as Robert Louis
Stevenson; whom have all written in response to this period of revisionist
oppression.
Revisionism
continued to be a main theme through Victorian times and repapered during the
Cold War. From 1941-45 Joseph Stalin used wartime propaganda to glorify soviet
ideology and create an era of “epic revisionism.” (Platt,18)
Stalin’s demonstration of revisionism is the paragon of the detrimental affects
of revisionism to equality and progression. This practice was able to alter the
minds of the Russian people and coerce them into following the soviet ideology.
The act of revising led to a period of horrendous suffering for the people
under the socialist reign of the U.S.S.R. Until 1991 when the Cold War ended
under President George H.W. Bush’s administration.
Unfortunately
revisionism would not take a long reprieve. During 1995 under the
administration of President Bill Clinton the act of revisionism would be
responsible for “The US– Japan Framework negotiations of 1993– 5 representing
perhaps the nastiest and most confrontational of bilateral trade disputes ever.”( Uriu,31) This period of tension would inspire a
racially charged type of revisionism. Americans sought out to portray the
Japanese as sub-humans who threatened the global influence of the United
States. This revised attitude created an intense level of racial indifference. A
critical moment that epitomizes this racially motivated maliciousness was the
Okinawa Rape of 1995. In which two U.S. Navy servicemen rented a van, kidnaped
and raped a twelve-year-old Japanese girl. This incident was instigated by the revisionist
attitude that dehumanized the Japanese people. Thus providing a clear example
of how dangerous the act of revisionism is in relation to progression of a
compassionate society.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against the
attitude of revisionism it is still a critical aspect of political conflict in
contemporary society. The most recent example takes place in Florida. Florida’s
political climate in recent years has reflected a revisionist attitude that is
causing self inflicted damage to the political system. This damage to the political system creates
disillusion and impedes progress. People and politicians alike are revising
their own attitudes to accommodate the attitudes of America’s two party
political systems. People such as former state governor Charlie Crist.
Crist was a republican candidate in 2007 when he
became the 44th governor of Florida. However seven years later Crist
is running for the position of governor as a Democratic candidate. Crist’s
political switch is the result of revisionism. Crist started out in 2007
lobbying for conservative Florida legislation. One particular area of interest
was the movement for same sex marriage in Florida. In an interview with the
Miami Herald in 2014 Crist says he does not believe the government should deny
individuals the right to marry but does not personally condone same sex
marriage. However in 2012 Crist was under investigation for witness
tampering. The report states that Crist
may have been a homosexual and attempted to be intimate with businessman Jim
Greer; but you know what? It does not matter. Who gives a fuck if he tried to
kiss a guy? I know I don’t. I care about how someone like Charlie Crist got
47.1% of Florida’s people to vote for him in the 2014 Florida election for
Governor. Floridians should be ashamed for glorifying a man who would rather be
a revisionist than admit to kissing a guy.
Works Cited
Charlie Crist's Interview with the Miami Herald
Editorial Board (Part One). Charlie
Crist's Interview with the Miami Herald Editorial Board (Part One). Miami
Herald, n.d. Web.
El-11-0027. Panama City, Florida. 29 May 2012. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://archive.wtsp.com/assetpool/documents/120608071046_FDLE%20Greer-Crist%20report%20warning%20graphic%20language.pdf>.
Platt, Kevin M. F., and David Brandenberger. Epic
Revisionism: Russian History and Literature as Stalinist Propaganda.
Madison: U of Wisconsin, 2006. Print.
Uriu, Robert M. Clinton and Japan: The Impact of
Revisionism on U.S. Trade Policy. New York, NY: Oxford UP, 2009. Web.
Work
Referenced
Roman, Mervyn. Living in the Past: Some Revisionist
Thoughts on the Historiography of Art and Design Education. N.p.: n.p.,
n.d. Proquest. Web.
