Collective Memory :: essays research papers

Anthony D. Smith who wrote National Identity and Myths of Ethnic Descent discussed how myths are formed and how they can attract to the ethnic regeneration within a group of people. He associated his ideas on ethnic regeneration with the countries of Turkey, Greece, England, France, and Israel. His ideas clearly outlined the steps that are taken to refine when people are influence by myths created sometimes thousands of years ago in such cases as seen by Jews. There were eight steps which each of these nation-states were said to have followed, in order to be where they are today. Of these eight steps I do not agree with the one that says, they designate a space and time for their action. I do not liveliness that a specific time is designated. Instead I feel that the time is determined at a moments notice. This can be seen presently when referring to the future state of Palestine. The date for this states declaration of existence has changed numerous times during the past few yea rs.Yael Zerubavel writes about Collective remembering and Zionist reconstruction of the past. I do not agree with the historian that Zerubavel talks about in his writings. I feel that Halbwachs view of history expressed as collective memory. Collective memory is what gives a society is goals that they must seek in the future. It in addition creates a bond between the people of that society. As a result it leads to these people wanting to settle together in a nation-state. The Zionist impulsion is an example of something caused by collective memory. Through generations the Diaspora and other events in the lives of Jews have been passed on, which eventually led Jews to create a homeland in 1948.