JDM's History Explorer

 

When not researching Parliament or Congress, I enjoy reading about - or visiting places associated with - history. Recently I started another blog dedicated to that passion.

http://jdmhistory.blogspot.co.uk/

The photograph today was taken in Milton Keynes Shopping Centre - it is a mosaic found in the Roman villa discovered in (what is now) Bancroft within the city. I have lots of information about the history of Britain's "New City". A friend from America told me that she was pleased that I loved the place to which I had moved - but "unlike many of ancient towns in England, Milton Keynes has no history". That was like a red rag to a bull - and I've been researching the great history of Milton Keynes ever since.

Do take a look at the new blog - which covers not just Milton Keynes - but wherever I indulge my passion for history.

A Free University

I do it at home - but while I'm in Washington DC, I've been doing it more - and that is watching C-SPAN programmes. Although primarily known for its live broadcasting of the House of Representatives and the US Senate - C-SPAN has programming which goes out 24 hours a day on 3 TV channels and a radio station. It is available on cable TV in the US, but can be accessed via the internet or through an app (I use the app on my iPhone and iPad). There is also an extensive library of programmes from previous years.

All this adds up to a first rate free university, full of lectures - documentaries and a wealth of primary materials. As I write this I am in a home in Northern Virginia - it is 7.40 on Easter Sunday morning - and I am listening to a C-SPAN programme on my iPad - "Edmund Burke and the origins of modern conservatism". David Norcross is delivering an interesting, informative lecture to the Citadel Military College.

Each day I check the text schedules on the internet (and these have hyperlinks to the programmes themselves). I listen to, or watch programmes which look interesting - which will extend my knowledge and understanding. It may be a history documentary; or a lecture on political philosophy. Perhaps it covers a current controversy or the progress of the US Elections. I wish I had time to watch everything of interest that is on offer. I don't need to worry about time the broadcast is actually made - since I'm actually watching programmes in the video library. (Note for readers outside the US - you need to remember the time difference. Your browser in Britain may think it is noon, so shows you the schedule from 12.00 - wheras you need to look backwasrds at 7.00 (the 'previous' 24 hour schedule) which is the time in the Eastern US)

The complete covereage of Chamber proceedings of both Houses of Congress (plus many committee proceedings); plus broadcasts of political events gives an excellent source of primary materials. They are useful for learning about practice and procedure.

I thoroughly commend C-SPAN - and invite you to explore how it can enhance your understanding (and frankly) enjoyment of politics; history and many other related subjects.

History

A love of history is very useful for studying law and politics. For one thing human nature doesn't change. Lord Acton's dictum that "power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely" was true in Ancient Greece and Rome; in Medieval England - and is true today (which is why law is needed to curb these tendencies).

History is particularly useful for understanding Common Law systems - such as those in the UK and USA. It can explainthe background to current practice - and makes certain odd behaviour - in Parliament and Congress - understandable.

Websites relating to the institutions of Government have history links - follow the links below -

UK Parliament
UK Supreme Court

US Congress - House of Representatives
US Congress - Senate
US Supreme Court

Neglecting our History?

Yesterday my travels took me to Runnymede, the meadows on which the Magna Carta was signed in 1215. It has struck me for a long time that this great document is honoured more outside Britain - particularly in the US. (Magna Carta Facts)

While this has been a really interesting week for me - it has also been a little depressing. I had the privilege of visiting two major sites - both of major national and international significance - yet felt that as a nation we are failing to live up to the responsibility to honour and pass on that history.

If I had been looking for Thorpe Park (Britain's third largest theme park - "catering to the thrill-ride market"), my journey would have benn easy. It was well signposted. Runnymede was not. When we eventually found it - I have to say it was rather under-stated. Here was the site of one of the most important events in British and world history, but there wasn't even a bookshop. The memorial - was built by the AMERICAN Bar Association. There were some "interpretation boards" - but surely we could be doing more to tell this story - to inspire the young - to keep alive the traditions which made Britain great. (we don't seem to have a problem celebrating less valuable traditions).

Bletchley Park is another national treasure that we have treated woefully. There has been some fantastic work done by volunteers to open up the history of what happened there. I am in awe of what they have achieved. A working model of Colossus was made - by a handful of volunteers - from photographs and partial wiring diagrams. When tested, it proved that the model was able to decode as the original had. There's an archive section which has processed masses of key documents - in a tiny area. Key buildings have been saved from destruction. Yet this is not a well financed, publicly sponsored operation. As the Save Bletchley Park Facebook Site says -

"The museum at Bletchley Park is in dire need of funding. Historic buildings are crumbling and need restoration. Despite its historical importance it receives no ongoing public funding and is urgently seeking donations.We owe it to both ourselves and to the men and women who served there to preserve Bletchley Park for our generation and the next, as computer users, citizens of the free world and simply as human beings."

I strongly recommend visiting Bletchley Park - it is a really interesting place. It's well worth a visit. Also I would urge your support. Join the facebook Group ; write to your MP to encourage them to sign the EDM ; if you like in the area consider becoming a volunteer.

History is a wonderful thing - we can honour the great things done in the past - we can also learn, and be inspired, for our future.