I propose that all UCLA students should be required to take at
least two more General Education courses dealing with the extensive
history of a region other than the United States or Western Europe.
Here’s why.
I used to see myself living in my compartmental roles. I thought
of myself as a son, a brother, a community member and an American.
I haven’t shed any of those titles, but my glass house was
shattered on September 11, 2001. I realized that what happens in
other parts of the world can profoundly affect my life. Acting as
if other people with different cultures lived in some parallel
universe was not possible anymore.
How many people, even those at the “institutes of higher
learning” such as UCLA, truly understand the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict? How many of you know this troubled
region was managed under the British from 1917 to 1948? What
percentage of the student body is familiar with Israel’s 1948
War for Independence, and subsequent Israeli-Arab clashes: the 1967
Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War?
Such issues have impacted the current crisis in that region
tremendously. Believe it or not, what happens in the Middle East
today does affect America tomorrow, whether it is through the oil
supply (SUV owners beware) or through terrorism. Something
that can affect us so greatly is something we must learn about.
The main reason Americans (and, more specifically, UCLA
students) must learn about the history and past conflicts of
civilizations has little to do with fuzzy concepts like
“diversity requirements” or being “well
rounded.” It’s pure and simple: the reason can be
boiled down to self-interest.
In the classroom, students can go through four years or more of
schooling and still know little about Asia, Africa, the Middle
East, Latin America and even Europe. They don’t understand
the histories of these regions and how that history has affected
the present political situations.
Thus, when some event like a terrorist attack occurs, people
have little comprehension of what is being dealt with. But if
Americans had been reading about the history and present situation
of Arab governance and Middle Eastern economics, maybe they could
catch a glimpse into the current quagmire. With such knowledge
students could affect a change now and in the future. Right now
they could write to their leaders, hold discussions or
demonstrations, and, most importantly, vote intelligently.
We are the future. Those of us who attend UCLA and other
top-tier universities will be the leaders of our nation in many
areas, as well as the wealthiest citizens (or at least we would
like to think so). Without an understanding of the histories and
affairs of other countries, we will have to rely on the
“experts” rather than having a foundation for
ourselves.
The “globalization” movement is another reason why
students must have a greater degree of knowledge about the past and
present situations of other nations. As the world becomes more
united under globalization, economic and political events converge;
what happens in one nation will affect all of us more intimately.
China’s path of reforms has been largely affected by their
past dealings with the West, but again; how many people understand
that?
With such a situation, it is crucial that we have a basic
understanding of what has made other countries the way they are and
how that should affect our dealings with foreign nations. To assume
that the whole world is homogenized is arrogant and
shortsighted.
A greater understanding of another nation’s past can help
us deal with that nation in a better context, whether it be in
trade deals or in fighting political instability and terrorism.
Yes, people might have to stay in school a little longer, and
the complexity of so many students learning about these other
nations and cultures will require logistical changes. But that is a
small price to pay. After all, if those who are ascending to the
top of the socioeconomic or intellectual society have no knowledge
of different places and people, how peaceful and prosperous will
our future be?
Bhaskar is a second-year political science student. E-mail him
at sbhaskar@media.ucla.edu