and I was like, dude, oral history…
Looking over the websites for this week and last, there is a definite effort to incorporate oral history, and like oral history done face to face, it has its ups and downs. For example the “dude U.S.S. Arizona” post on the National Geographic website. The problem of checking veracity is magnified on the Net, especially when there are no means to track down the original poster. The sites have taken a variety of approaches to this, from not doing anything at all (Nat Geo), to placing a statement that all entries are included despite possible misinformation because that emotion etc is part of the history too (9/11), to including a space for store locations so the very basic facts at least can be checked (video proj). Which approach do you favor? Or do you think it could be done better and if so, how?
Unrelated note, does anyone know of a good book on President Johnson’s foreign policy that is not about Vietnam? Having trouble locating anything useable for a project I am working on.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Can you be more specific about the book? Foreign policy in what region(s), etc.? I have a huge annotated bib I can check for you, but since there are over 400 entries in the Kennedy/Johnson chapter a little more direction would be good.
January 27th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Yes, thanks. I am looking for something on the U.S.-Soviet relationship.
January 29th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
See–I think that some regulation is necessary–especially to keep out the obvious miscreants as in the “dude” post. At the same time though there has to be a little bit of flexibility so that the posters feel comfortable telling their own stories–otherwise its a mediated relationship where those constructing the site once again have power over the narration. I think the important thing is to regulate without regulating…which is directly linked to historical ethics…
January 30th, 2006 at 8:55 am
None of these books are explicitly about LBJ US-USSR relationship, but they should have discussions of foreign policy beyond Vietnam:
Bornet, *The Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson*
Dallek, *Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and his times*
Gaddis, *Strategies of Containment* and maybe *The Long Peace*
George and Smoke, *Deterrence in American Foreign Policy*
Kearns (Goodwin), *Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream*
(maybe) Weihmiller, *US-Soviet Summits: An Account of East-West Diplomacy from the Top*
Hopefully these books will help. Sorry it took me so long.
January 30th, 2006 at 10:59 am
That’s fine. Danke Schoen.
January 30th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
I think that whoever is in control of the website needs to monitor the post or have some sort of “flagging” option for other people visiting the website. There is no reason to leave the “dude…and I was like dude” post up on the USS Arizona website. While I may not be particularly offended by it, I do find it inappropriate for the type of message National Geographic attempts to relay. I believe that people should be able to freely contribute, but someone (or everyone) must play a roll in weeding out post that are not appropriate.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:34 am
I agree, Ed. Even if a site encourages public contributions, those contributions should be mediated by someone connected to the site and its historical project.
December 3rd, 2006 at 7:43 pm
amira…
amira…
December 23rd, 2006 at 1:22 am
hello, good idea…
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January 15th, 2007 at 5:48 am
very best idea make rules time!…
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January 15th, 2007 at 6:54 am
very best idea make rules time!…
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