Cuddly history is a history that is comforting and unreal.
It aims to tell its readers or hearers, that they and their ancestors and their nation never did anything terribly wrong, disreputable, cruel or which had long-term or unintended conequences.
It often invokes moral relativism: “Oh in those days it didn’t count” or “it couldn’t have happened anyway” or “It dosn’t matter what happened then, because we are all equal now.” “‘left wing’ history is just stirring up trouble”,
The cuddly version reeassures people that they can’t be being bad when they continue to treat people badly.
Its a way of removing all discomfort. Especially the discomfort of awareness….
Examples
“Colonialism had no ill effects on indigenous people, and indeed improved life for all them in the long term.” This is usually stated if any one mentions the death rate of colonisation. Because of this, no one needs to talk about the present day in which indigenous people generally live in poverty, and have their lands (should they still have them), stripped away and given to miners, or get imprisoned regularly.
“They would have been worse off if it wasn’t for us” A variation on the first point, they should really be thanking us for massacring them, taking their land and often their children.
“If people died out, then it was because they were inferior, and could not accept our superior culture. They were weak. We tried, but sadly could not keep them alive.”
In Australia: “We never had slavery, they worked because they liked being in chains and it was good for them. It gave them discipline, and strutured time, all essential for civilisation. It was a minor issue anyway, and they heard the Gospel, and its over now.”
In the USA: “Slaves were treated as members of the family, and learnt a lot from us that they would never have learnt otherwise, like agriculture…..”
“Slavery was not our fault, it was the fault of those Africans and Muslims who sold their country men and women”.
“We are all equal now, and blacks just whinge and won’t get off their arses. There’s no racism any more. It’s the best of all possible worlds”
“People should become happy workers like we are, its the best system and never did anyone any harm”
“The Market is a beautiful scheme which produces balance and prosperity. Allegations that it also brought murder and dispossession, are communist fantasies. Capitalists have no interest in harming anyone. All the conditions and prosperity that workers have, was given to them freely by their masters. They certainly never needed to fight for it. Capitalism was brought by God.”
“Nazis were left wing” This is often said by the same people welcoming Nazis to Trump rallies
“Women enjoyed being raped and threatened at the time….. Its just a bit of fun…”
“‘All men’ are not responsible for women’s experience of oppression, so leave all men alone. Any bad situatuation was brought on themselves by women who crave strong men, or as part of the necessary protection of women from ???? men..,.” “It was a bit rough in them days, but women were respected and protected – if they were good and obedient.” “Rape in marriage is impossible by definition.”
During the recent debates on abortion in the US, some (and I emphasise some) Republicans where arguing that there did not need to be an exception allowing abortion in cases of rape, because women could only get pregnant if they enjoyed it – otherwise their reproductive mechanisms would just shut down. Unwanted pregnancy is always the sinful woman’s fault.”
“We were invaded too. Never harmed us. Should we demand recompense from the Vikings and the Romans? There are far worse people than us, and we got over it.”
Conclusion
Our group is always good and virtuous. We did the right thing, and if anyone suffered it was their own fault, and inability to change, due to adherence to savage traditions.
We decalre that everything is ok now (no racism or sexism), so every thing was ok then.
I feel so good knowing this, and don’t have to listen to anything else…..
Its sooo cuddly warm and comfy
Tags: Disinformation, history, neoliberalism
Climate, technology and chaos Blog 
Leave a comment