The Laboratory of Human Experience

Stearns makes some excellent assertions on the value of historical study for society (e.g. “history offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave,” and that “history provides data about the emergence of national institutions, problems, and values – it’s the only significant storehouse of such data available.”).

The History Rhyme

In 1999, Bill Gates said “the Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Many things happen in a town square on a daily basis – commerce, leisure, entertainment, and the sharing of news. Since Mr. Gates made his observation, the world of social media has taken our village in new directions that he was unlikely to have foreseen. This edition of the History Rhyme will briefly focus on the news gathering and disseminating part of this role and then look at why historians are so important in helping us to make sense of what we have heard in Mr. Gates’ town square.

Up until recently, news and opinion on the events of the world have been available mainly through websites created by traditional print and broadcast media (e.g. the Wall Street Journal or CNN). In the past couple of years, the contribution by social media…

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RAPE IS NEVER THE VICTIM’S FAULT: STOP THE BLAME GAME!

Firstly, there is nothing humorous about rape. All the jokes you are making on social media about rape with innuendos of the prey and the predator are insensitive and distasteful.

FEMNET

This week began with a negative narrative on the rights of women in Kenya as yet another rape case involving a Member of Parliament hit the airwaves. Nancy, (not her real name) a 29 year old Communication Consultant found herself in a precarious position when her client and family friend turned tables on her during a business meeting and asked for sexual favors in return. Nancy explains that the MP kept postponing the meeting to odd hours and stressed he had to sign the papers on the fateful day. When they were alone, the MP called in a doctor to conduct a forceful HIV test and when Nancy refused he physically assaulted her until she agreed to test. The test came back and confirmed that she was HIV negative the MP asked his aides to close the door and he raped her repeatedly. This is the latest in the cases…

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