Why Is It Dangerous to Disown Our Past? | Victor Davis Hanson

Join Victor Davis Hanson and enroll in this free course today by clicking here: online.hillsdale.edu/landing/...
Learn the significance of American citizenship and the threats it faces today.
Citizenship is rare in human history but essential to free government. Today, the constitutional rule of citizens in America is threatened by a new form of government, unaccountable to the people, in which power is held by a ruling class that seeks to transform our society.
In this eight-lecture course, students will examine the origins and history of citizenship in the West and the grave challenges American citizenship faces today. Topics covered in this course include:
- the erosion of the middle class,
- the disappearance of sovereign borders,
- the rise of tribalism,
- the growth of the deep state,
- the modern assaults on the Constitution,
- and the emergence of a new form of global government.
Join the thousands of citizens committed to learning how to defend liberty in America by enrolling in this free online course, “American Citizenship and Its Decline,” today!
Enroll in this free course on American citizenship today!

[@jamesbryson575]

It's time for the SANE majority to stand up.

[@johnteets2921]

Are the sane a majority anymore ? I wonder. Forget California and New York.

[@ChocolateAfterDark]

Man, I would never skip this guy’s class.

[@charless.gorski537]

Hell ya

[@Gzoratto]

It's important to take pride in a nations achievements, but accept it's atrocities, facts the 1619 project reveal. They are the deepest well spring for understand the events of the past and their echos in the present.

[@user-ts6vz7rt5i]

Absolutely correct. We are repeating history.

[@johnteets2921]

The Democrats remind me of the Taliban when they blew up those giant Buddhas in the caves of Afghanistan.

[@user-ts6vz7rt5i]

@@johnteets2921 I remember that. I was very angry. They were ERASING human history and culture all in the name of ISLAM. ISLAM is one of the GREATEST dangers to humanity and the future.

[@charless.gorski537]

We are stupid

[@skigglystars9525]

You Sir are my favorite speaker. Every time I listen to you, I learn something new. Thank you for the lessons.

[@kaila62kaila]

God help us!

[@sonofnun7803]

This not just happening in the US, its happening in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and across Europe

[@sandylee990]

Yes, because this is the Globalist's Agenda.

[@hilbert551]

Notice all are nations of the west. It's Big Busines, (with the zzpee) wanting to carve up the world for their gain.

[@joestalin2375]

If America falls tonight,the rest of the world tomorrow.

[@user-ts6vz7rt5i]

It's the other reset that's been occuring since the 1960s. They are speeding it up.

[@hathawayrose2183]

@@joestalin2375 America spreads Russophobic and Sinophobic hate around the globe, and European Governments are now no better than US vassals...you even have us support and arm Nazis in the Ukraine. I tell you; when the US falls it will be a blessing for the world.🙏

[@johnmuench6459]

Thanks Victor!!! 👍👍😁🙏✨✨✨

[@FlexibleFlyer50]

I was fortunate that my father owned a small bookstore. My brothers and I would visit, find books we wanted to read, and then take them home. My father's store always carried a good selection of history books. My mother bought us books all the time; we didn't get trips to buy ice cream, but we got books instead. Our dinner table conversation often focused on what we read, what lessons we learned from reading those books, and why the material was important. Our parents encouraged us to read and learn. As far as our family history, we were fortunate to have relatives who recorded the family history----where the ancestors came from, who they were, etc. History was always an integral part of our lives as children and adults. If you don't know your past, then don't expect to care about the future. That future will be beyond your grasp because you have nothing to ground you in the present.

[@bighoss7506]

That is a great story. Your parents were thinking ahead.

[@lemhanback9595]

What you've described in your post to me is a fulfilling life I can relate to. I was an avid reader myself. Also, one of the few in my family that was curious enough to research my family history. You are correct also with the not caring about the past tending to lead into an unambitious future. It's pretty sad yet understandable.

[@FlexibleFlyer50]

@@lemhanback9595 Never discount the power of books! Know your family's medical background---we have 30 different types of cancers in the family. Good luck to you! Keep reading!

[@rlunnerstall3527]

Thank You to All that make this teaching possible : )

[@dianepamula2765]

Victor I’ve watched and shared all your videos. Your the Voice of Truth

[@maternst1]

That's WHY he is despised by the democrat party.

[@drone_boss]

100% agree. America is no longer.

[@tombergins8215]

The Year Zero I automatically thought of was Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge Year Zero in Cambodia 1975-79 That commenced a genocide almost akin to the Holocaust. Everyone should watch the movie THE KILLING FIELDS

[@mikegalvin9801]

Great movie.

[@geeussery8849]

He is my favorite Scholar. Where are the rest of our "Scholars" whom we need to protect our Constitutional Republic?!

[@francesblabey3055]

History just repeats it's self till will learn the lesson. Wake up everyone.

[@johnteets2921]

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes pretty good". - Mark Twain .

[@ExtremelyRightWing]

It wont be stopped without force.

[@samuelmatz]

Thomas Sowell's 'Intellectuals and Society '

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Anyone who’s never read the book "1984" should make sure they do so - soon!

[@truckitforu3008]

Carlin said it best The public sucks America is the greatest country in the world That needs Government and a Statesman

[@Schtuperfly]

Our past represents a long hard slog toward a civilized society. Think why Chrisianity was more popular than paganism, was it because people didn't want to be human sacrifices? Why was Chrisianity more popular than Islam, was it because people didn't their hands cut off for stealing? Why will Christanity be found more popular than Communism, could be the moral commonallity based on a 2000 year old book of wisdom of the ages rather than the whims of the moment of perhaps insane dictators?

[@dianapanetta]

3 excellent questions.

[@AdrianoGiovanni]

💚🙏 interesting, observant and different perspective I can dig it God bless Vic

[@Viewer372]

I may have already replied to this video-if not, I thought it was another outstanding presention.

[@jclaxton78]

Look at the playbook South Africa used to see where we're headed. Arm up people.

[@user-pe6uz2mk7c]

Good stuff. Right on the money

[@denisevarner7308]

You just described psychopathic narcissism. Look to tribal governance for effective democratic traditions. You are saying the same thing as the Haudunasaunee/Iriquois and Inhanktiwan/Standing Rock elders have been saying. Because of this madness Arvil Lookinghorse, the thirteenth generation sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman keeper of the Chanupa (Sacred Pipe) put the pipe away two years ago to protect it from these energies. These wisdom keepers have knowledge about this planet, its cycles that are tens of thousands of years old that we know of. No one consults them respectfully to learn how to proceed. When all is lost and life hangs on the edge that is when they are called upon. Case in point: forst burn management and environmental balance in a polluted toxic world. Narcissist don't learn. They care inly about their individual egos and insatiable appetites for greed non stop.

[@RonKelmell]

The pride of these punks goes before the fall of the same. When the "reproofs of life" will teach them lessons they'll never escape or forget. Count on it, Scooter.

[@brendawhisenhunt8444]

I understand exactly what he is saying. Just look around...

[@seanburton5298]

Now I know what an iconoclastic person or belief system is, thanks.

[@Zach-mj8ir]

Very good

[@speckledhen409]

Just listening to VDH makes me smarter.

[@petersclafani4370]

To remove or destroy the past is then creating a new government culture

[@arniesalanga36]

True!

[@williamkraemer8338]

..... but things don't change.

[@catandduckflying-wj8uu]

With a heavy dose of sarcasm! I want to be known as a gender fluid, non-racist, non-homophonic, non-iconoclastic person who believes in the equality of all individuals regardless of their worth in society. I am of equal value to those who create while I am lazy, stoned and contribute nothing. I am the pinnacle of human existence. It is my right to be equal. I am alive, therefore, I deserve.

[@theemirofjaffa2266]

Now that's a lot for my small brain to grasp 🤔🤷‍♀️

[@donicagiorgio]

Se ti cosmos zeis?..even someone or group of people likes to bring back the pass its imposible..

[@scottstevens1657]

Our past is our history . Like it or not , it is what it is,and should be remembered and taught in schools.

[@johnHofweber]

it may also be good to disown your past, 'cause it gives you an excuse to carrty on despite your hypocrisy

[@randybloomfield5090]

👍

[@kevinm3751]

Not only is it dangerous to disown it, it is equally dangerous to rewrite it to suite your own narrative and these losers are doing both!

[@johnteets2921]

As the CEO of AIG said : "Sometimes we have to give up our hopes for a better past".

[@johnteets2921]

@johncollins7062 No, his name was Cohen.And, his point was that you can't do anything about the past.

[@johnteets2921]

@johncollins7062 Ferocious ? Gee, I thought you were being facetious.

[@johnteets2921]

​@johncollins7062 You failed again.

[@davidh1927]

He did not mention Pol Pot

[@Kathylopex-gf2uq]

Excuse Mr. but you forget that it's not only young and mid-age, who seem to be hostile against the struggle, hardships etc..Of the elder generations, but the fact that theirs also exist indifferent of empathy from senior, elder, disabled, veterans, religion etc.., Themselves, suggest that their exist some sort of inner genocide desire..,

[@MrRIK325]

Thank you kindly for sharing. Yes, Iwo Jima 硫黄島 comes to mind, I agree とoddly enough relate to such DIchotomy as reminiscent of Gold 金? Philosophy of Confucius 孔子? Long story short, born & raised in the West 西 Việt Nam era, of parents from the East 東, WWII era. My Father 父 was a merchant marine who shared with me much Truth 本当. b.t.w. if I may, likewise share Okinawa 沖縄県, I oddly do recall ... driving on the right 右, then next day on the left 左 ??? Thank you kindly for sharing. ¿Big $ aka ¥ may Lie at the source of such? Money, itself IS not the root of Evil, per chance it may the LOVE of Money, the never endless pursuit of acquiring ever more... that led US Down such an unfortunate Path? ... too much ... is Never Ever enough ... eventually DEVOLVING into ¿Mass Formation Psychosis? Best for U$, may indeed be DIvergent from best for us, the People of the world 世界の人. p.s. よろしくお願いします Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu

[@johnnycooper657]

Throughout time nations have been turned upside down by various methods and tyrants. Invariably the ends are justified by Satan means and his goal of humanity's destruction. Jesus Saves, Satan slays. Psalms 9:17 " The wicked shall be turned into Hell and ALL the nations that forget God."

[@Sealight007]

Victor, I listened to it twice. I love your stuff, but maybe it was just me. I missed the message.

[@dansmusic5749]

@Sealight007 That if we allow our time-tested beliefs to be overrun by mob frenzy inspired by ideological bureaucrats we run the risk of subordinating ourselves to them (the bureaucrats) in an irrevocable fashion.

[@hilbert551]

If we don't vote and stand for freedom we will lose it to the tyrannical dictators, e.g. leftists, libtards, socialism, communism, and I'll add even big wokism.

[@darren1450]

It's at 4:19

[@blakkwaltz]

Exactly. We don't care.

[@TeamTwiistz]

Okay but how is this professor confusing the cultural revolution with the Khmer Rouge

[@tylergibbs3869]

tribal race is going down

[@throckmortensnivel2850]

This is a bit ironic in that Hanson is one of the people trying desperately to re-write the history of the USA. For instance, he seems to have forgotten the USA military helping destroy the statue of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. A picture which was celebrated in every medium in the USA. Yeah, those iconoclasts were bad people, unless, of course, they were destroying icons we didn't like.

[@DarthVaderTheSithLord]

Toppling the statue of Saddam in Iraq was meant to be a symbol of American victory in the invasion, not as a way to rid Saddam from Iraqi history.

[@throckmortensnivel2850]

@@DarthVaderTheSithLord And that is precisely what Hanson was complaining about, iconoclasts destroying symbols. The only difference is that when it was the USA destroying a symbol of the past, that was fine. So it isn't the principle of destroying symbols, it is the specific symbols that decide whether it's good or bad.

[@brendaforliberty6836]

​@@throckmortensnivel2850Hey brainiac, maybe you should not want your own country destroyed? That is peak idiocy.

[@mrswatchwatch]

They were destroying the statue of a dictator who was alive at the time and guilty of killing his own people. They were not destroying history, they were marking the end of an evil dictator. Big difference but I wouldn't expect people of your leanings to discern it.

[@pac1fic055]

Bolsheviks said the same thing in 1917. It’s rather silly.

[@rogermetzger7335]

Both are wrong - both the conservatives who want to require everyone to subscribe to a specific view of “the past” or “traditions” and the progressives who want to require everyone to subscribe to a new way of thinking and acting. In the early seventeenth century, King James I of England had joined the protestant reformation in the sense of disagreeing with several of the doctrines of the Roman Church but, as the head of the Church of England, he wanted to retain much (most?) of the formalism of the worship style of the Roman Church. His advisors argued that doing so would encourage adherents of the Roman Church to become protestants. “Puritans” were people who wanted to go beyond merely changes in doctrine. They wanted to abandon several additional traditions such as Christmas, confession (to a priest), the sale of indulgences, pilgrimages (as a means of obtaining merit or favor with God), prayers directed to “saints”, clerical vestments, kneeling to receive the bread of the Lord’s supper and, at least in some circumstances, making the sign of the cross. King James’ reaction was to threaten to vow to “harry them (the puritans) out of the land - or else the worse.” That, in turn, led to a new faction within the puritan movement - the separatists, so called because they considered the Church of England to be incapable of further reform. Some of the separatists migrated to the Dutch Republic where they found most of the freedom they wanted but a new problem - the separatists considered the Dutch to be so “worldly” that the separatists feared the Dutch were a bad influence on their (the separatists’) children. It was in this situation that some of the separatists decided to migrate to the New World. They sailed aboard the Mayflower and into history as “the Pilgrims”. I admire the separatists - especially the courage it took to cross the Atlantic at a time in history when doing so was VERY dangerous. On the shores of North America, the separatists found what they were seeking - freedom from both the doctrine of the Roman Church and the formalism of both the Roman Church and the Church of England. What the Pilgrims failed to do, however, was to extend to others the kind of freedom they had desired for themselves. It was their way or no way. Failure to comply with the religious prohibitions of the puritans in New England resulted in penalties ranging from fines to incarceration, the stocks, the pillory and, for those few who persisted in questioning the beliefs and practices of the majority,, banishment. Religion is the sum of those beliefs, practices and prohibitions that pertain to a person’s concept of the highest powers of the universe. The problem in the United States right now is not that people are abandoning religion. As my admiration of the English separatists demonstrates, I’m not opposed to reform of doctrine or practice or even abandoning or replacing various traditions altogether. On the other hand, the trend in the United States is toward such religions as the worship of Mother Earth or the goddess of Reason . If anyone questions whether those really are religions, witness the dogmatism and evangelistic zeal of the adherents of those religions. It is just as wrong for the adherents of new religions to require everyone to subscribe to a new way of thinking and acting as it is wrong for conservatives to require everyone to comply with “traditional” doctrines and practices.

[@dannysullivan3951]

Using three names doesn’t signify intelligence, but rather pomposity. Seems to me it’s DeSantis and co trying to disown the past.

[@donald7212]

Sad comentary on our times those who dont learn from history are doom to repeat it.....