Category Archives: History

Updated: Hermann Giliomee: Reluctant Historian of the Afrikaner?

I’m reading Hermann Giliomee’s The Afrikaners: Biography of a People. Giliomee is the historian of record on the topic. At the same time, I’m also reading David Hackett Fischer’s Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America. (I reviewed one of his later volumes for The American Conservative.)
Perhaps my South African readers—at least those who are in the know—can respond to my initial observation:
Besides Fischer being a better writer, Giliomee seem to lack any fondness for his subject—the kind I detect in Fischer, who simply delights in the American settlers, human foibles and all.
I was so looking forward to reading Giliomee, but I find his door-stopper quite a downer. He’s a fine historian, make no mistake; Giliomee has an impressive command of the primary sources. But he’s too negative about early Afrikaners.
For example, unanswered in Giliomee’s account of the travails of the 4000 odd settler/farmers in the Cape is why these people were subjected to ongoing cattle theft and brutal attacks from the indigenous peoples. Giliomee says the natives felt encroached upon. This may count as a necessary, but insufficient, condition. We are talking about a vast country. The locals would have hardly noticed the few farms that dotted the landscape.
Similar questions are completely elucidated in Fischer’s accounts. He leaves his readers with no lingering, nagging questions. Again, I’d have liked to detect some passion in Giliomee—an Afrikaner himself—for his subject. But maybe his known liberalism prevents him from connecting to his roots.

Update: Dan Roodt, a BAB A-Lister, writes:
“You are perfectly right about Giliomee’s book. It is full of detail and sources, but it lacks a central argument or passion as you call it. I think he was too scared to write anything that could be considered nationalist or un-PC.
Giliomee’s greatest failure, I think, is in the last part where he simply repeats all the clichés of how the old government fell, leaving out the role of the Western powers and all the behind-the-scenes wrangling that was going on.
Yesterday the power went out three times, at 10, at 4 and again at 8 p.m. for two hours each time.”
**
I’m beginning to think I’ve been too charitable to Giliomee. Contrast his The Afrikaners with Hackett Fischer’s Albion’s Seed. The last speaks in so many voices other than the historian’s. It’s replete with excerpts from personal diaries, accounts from tutors and travelers, and outsiders looking in on the settlers. Hackett also mentions his own roots and is manifestly proud of his ancestry.
In the magnificent Albion’s Seed you learn exactly from where in England the settlers came, how they built their homes, courted, married, made love, sired children, buried their dead, and punished outlaws; what they ate and how they prepared food; how educated they were. In one wonderfully vivid diary, a husband speaks of his wife’s high-spirited nature and temper; how they make-up after fighting (“I gave my wife a flourish”: don’t you love that? He sauces it up even more.)
Early Americans were as flawed as the Afrikaners and as brave and adventurous. However, none of this emerges from Giliomee’s account. Admittedly, I have not yet finished the thing. But so far, it’s dry, dour, and sour. No diaries are drawn from; you learn nothing about how farmers lived, loved, raised children.
Conversely, Giliomee is quick to highlight miscegenation, on the rare occasions it occurred, and cruelty to slaves (a wrong Americans were also guilty of, but Hackett Fischer doesn’t blacken them for the sins of their times; he simply narrates the facts). Giliomee is also diligent in bringing to light stories of rogue Afrikaners; about heroes and emerging leaders you learn less.

Updated: Presidential History

America, Government, History, Pseudo-history, The State

“Of all historical genres, one of the least respected, at least among academics, is Presidential history. Mixing the unfashionable (with scholars) but generally popular fields of political history and biography, Presidential history is often a vehicle for national celebration and myth-making. Presidential historians often tend to narrate heroic tales of an unfolding national drama that sees the expansion of liberty and justice; words like “courage” and “leadership” abound. Nowhere does the “Great Man” history become greater than in histories of the White House. If patriotism is a kind of American civil religion, then Michael Beschloss, Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough are its high priests.” (Andrew Preston, TLS, December 21 & 28, 2007)
Goodwin is particularly repugnant.
Discuss.

Update (Jan. 15): From political economist Bob Higgs comes the quintessential guide to properly rating presidents:
“Washington, I think, actually does deserve a high rating–not even the historians can be wrong all the time. He established the precedent of stepping down after two terms, which lasted until it clashed with FDR’s insatiable ambition, and he prescribed the sensible foreign policy, later slandered as ‘isolationism,’ that served the nation well for more than a century. Other early presidents who were not entirely reprehensible in office include Jefferson and Jackson, though each committed grave derelictions.

Of the presidents since Cleveland, I rank Coolidge the highest. He sponsored sharp tax cuts and greatly reduced the national debt. As H.L. Mencken wrote, ‘There were no thrills while he reigned, but neither were there any headaches. He had no ideas, and he was not a nuisance’—high praise in view of the execrable performance of other twentieth-century presidents. Taft and Eisenhower were a cut above the rest, but that’s not saying much…”
A guide to the perplexed in “No More Great Presidents.”

Volunteering in Israel January 2007

Ancient History, History, Israel

Rhona is a remarkable woman in her early 60s, who has survived South Africa and cancer. She spends her vacations in very unorthodox ways. This year she took it easy and went down to the Dead Sea on an archeological dig. This account will transport you to the ancient sites Rhona describes so well.

Volunteering in Israel January 2007
By Rhona Karbusicky

I had primarily volunteered in Israel via Sar-El at Tel Hashomer Army Base in 2002. My task was to sort nerve gas injections for children and adults while discarding outdated items. In 2004 I volunteered at the rehabilitative Lichtenstaedter Hospital just outside Tel-Aviv. Both were fulfilling experiences. Now in 2007 I searched the Internet for alternative volunteer programs.

The Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations headed by Dr. Gideon Hadas provided the perfect opportunity for January 2007. The period coincided with my leave in Canada and I signed up.

Ein Gedi is exquisite in January —temperatures average 17-20 degrees Celsius and are ideal for physical exertion. The Judean desert constantly changes hue and color in the sunlight while shadows provide yet another perspective of the enchanting hills. Behind us is the cave where the mountain leopard resides and his roar can be heard in the early morning hours. The ibex with their curved horns and the hyrax roam comfortably and unthreatened as we walk to the excavation site. These animals in their immaculate desert camouflage — different shades of brown — blend effortlessly into the backdrop of the Judean hills.

Behind the date palms stretches the phenomenon of the Dead Sea — 420 meters below sea level, the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea shimmers and glitters as the sun rises, while the Jordanian Hills reflect the changing and mobile colors of the landscape.

The site under excavation dates back to the Second Temple (Roman period) — 7th Century BCE to 6th Century CE. Many visions spring to mind. How did the Jews look 2100 years ago? Were they small and dark? How did they live? Did they kindle Shabbat candles? Did they dance and sing? Layer by layer the small village revealed its treasures as we slowly and carefully dug deeper revealing entrances, courtyards, steps leading to exits and stone walls delineating each room. Sinks were uncovered as were shards of pottery and larger more intact vessels. A metal detector aided in the discovery of the ancient currency. Hopefully a Mikveh would also come to light.

Excavations took place Monday to Thursday — participants included many nationalities — Canadians, Swedes, Germans, Swiss, French, Italian, British, and American. Four Bedouins — Jaber, Zachi, Mutzla and Ahouda helped with the pick work carrying and disposing of heavy pails of dirt. Approximately a dozen American and British teenagers from the youth camp in Arad completed the team of volunteers. Gideon, known for his acerbic humor, kept an ever vigilant eye on his group. Most of the regular volunteers have been coming to Ein Gedi for 11 years since the inception of the Oasis Excavations. This “family” of volunteers ecstatically greets each other every year, happily working side by side enjoying the camaraderie and the desert environment. Meals are enjoyed under the date palms while Jaber and his co-workers retire to their tent, eat there, drink sweet herb tea brewed in a kettle and smoke the Nargilah. The Bedouin tent was undoubtedly the main attraction for the girls from the Arad youth camp — they were only too eager to experiment with the Nargilah.

The first free weekend Stephen (Toronto) and I decided to visit the Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan. The border crossing was via Eilat — Meir from the “Jeep See” travel bureau drove us to the Jordanian border where Abdel Rahim, our Jordanian guide, was waiting.

Then began the most wondrous of days. The drive to Petra via Aquaba was roughly 2 hours hampered by heavy fog. Snow lay on the surrounding hills and in the town of Wadi Musa. It is likely that Petra became the Nabataean capital at the height of its fortune — under the reign of Harith III (87-62 BC). The ancient Nabataean city rose in its Olympian splendor. The pink Nubian stone towered above us dwarfing the speeding horse-drawn carriages, the camels, the donkeys, the tourists. In many parts, the overhanging rock reminded me of Joseph’s many colored coat — red, blue, yellow, brown — I doubt whether an artist’s palette could replicate the unbelievable majesty of Petra. The brilliant and skilful engineering of the “Treasury” — Petra’s masterpiece- left us speechless. On this cold day, lunch with Abdel was most welcome – we enjoyed the kebabs, salads, rice pudding, coconut cake and blancmange while admiring the hanging portrait of King Abdullah, the handsome blue eyed Jordanian king. A horse ride back to the car rounded off a perfect day. Stephen and I had entered an unimaginable historical era — the day in Petra will forever be etched as one of my exceptional and unforgettable life experiences.

Taking leave of Gideon and my fellow volunteers, I explored the area around Ein Gedi. A day at the spa proved invigorating as I relaxed in the sulfur pools, covered myself in green mud and floated in the Dead Sea. Hopefully proposals to save the receding waters will come to fruition, and this wonder of the world will be preserved.

Shabbat evening, I visited my fellow volunteers living at Kibbutz Ein Gedi. There I met Barbara Gruel Aschanta, an artist from Frankfurt Germany. Barbara was on her way to meet with a representative from the Goethe Institute at Ramallah. Her dream is to establish a gallery in Frankfurt where Israeli and Palestinian women artists could display their art. By the end of the evening, we had become fast friends.

The following day, accompanied by a Bedouin guide, Salakh, we drove past the Dead Sea factories engaged in research and desalination programs, past the affluent hotels in Ein Boqeq and on to Mount Sodom where the desert lay silently beneath us. As we wandered among the undulating hills, an Israeli family rounded the bend mounted on their sleek horses — they were out for a ride this Shabbat morning. The Flour Cave, dark and solitary awaited us and the thick flour-like substance was yet another phenomenon of the desert. On our return to Ein Gedi, Salakh pointed out the pillar that was supposedly Lot’s wife.

Sunday was scheduled for a tour of the Bedouin area — down to Arad, the Bedouin market and lastly to the “Peace Tent” in Rahat, a vast tent with bright red cushions and carpeting. Ibrahim spoke only Hebrew explaining how the Peace Tent originated — a car of an Israeli family on their way to Eilat for Passover broke down — one of the kids cried so heartbrokenly that Ibrahim offered his own vehicle to the Israeli family so they could proceed to Eilat. A friendship flourished and the idea for the Peace Tent was born. Tourists from all over the world visit this tent for a meal and music while Ibrahim regales them with stories and extends the legendary Bedouin hospitality. Ibrahim further explained that the Bedouins were in a period of transition where the elders preferred to live in tents while the younger members of the various tribes opted for conventional housing. As we returned to Jerusalem, I did indeed notice tents alongside brick dwellings.
Jerusalem lacked the usual tourist hordes — shopkeepers struggle for a living. Passing through the Jaffa gate, I made my way through the teeming Arab Market to the Kotel where I spent several hours contemplating the survival of my people. My final visit was to Ben Yehuda Street and a stroll in the crisp evening air.

Israel remains a fascinating place to volunteer and visit. Lifetime friendships are formed, and through this fulfilling experience one returns able to enhance and enrich the lives of those around us.

Letter of the Week: Historical Alzheimer’s by Dan McDonald

History, Iraq

Too bad we Americans do not understand even our own history. When a people decide they don’t want to be ruled by foreigners, they declare their own independence and no system of government can appease that determination. Only brutal force binds together people that don’t want foreign control. We asserted our independence in the American Revolution; Lincoln kept the nation together brutally during the War Between the States. Our own history teaches the obvious that we are now discovering in Iraq.

The Iraqis of today show two strong tendencies. First, they do not want American rule, no matter how benevolent or ideal our vision for Iraq is. Secondly, now that the natural divisions of the Iraqi nation have been allowed to rise to the surface, it is very dubious if anyone can heal the divisions of Shiite, Sunni, and Kurd. It is even worse for Christian and other non-Muslim minorities that formerly lived peaceably under Saddam.

The results of this war do indeed provide a lesson we should not forget.