Correspondence

Dear Editors:

I am sending you some thoughts about so many (too many) professional historians in this country today. I came to these thoughts after reading last night from the book review section of the latest Journal of American History (December 2000). As usual so many of the historians, whose books are reviewed, are running down America for one reason or another. I will admit, of course, that the United States has made mistakes, some quite serious, but the American past is not all negative--take the phenomenal achievements of this country's oil industry, which I am trying to document. Let me add--what would the world have become without the leadership of the United States in World War Two against the Nazis and Japanese? I wish these same negative-minded historians, who would decry, and justly, of course, the persecution of the Jewish people by the Germans, would answer my question. And I have another question for them--what would have been the fate of the Jews not already persecuted, even killed, by the Nazis in World War Two, not to mention what would have been done to other minorities in the world, if the Germans and Japanese had not been defeated by the Allies, led by the United States?

I have another reflection. Many historians living today may not be around to see it, but there is a revolt coming in this country against the historical profession by the general public. The signs are already in evidence. Take the outcry, including that of our representatives in Congress, against the proposed National History Standards. Remember too the ground swell of opposition in this country to the proposed Enola Gay exhibit at the Smithsonian. So, as I predict, the revolt is coming, unless historians can reverse the disturbing trend of negativism about American history by the historical profession at present--a trend, which I think really dates from the Vietnam Era.

Sincerely,
Keith L. Miller