No, no and no.
Knowing the history of a group, country or ethnicity tells you little of its future or "destiny". It merely gives you insight as to what has driven it to where it is, and what its adherents find attractive or detractors find abhorrent. To say I am Catholic is not to say that I accept Catholicism as the be all to end all in religion (as they would prefer) or even that the Pope is some kind of "chosen disciple" of God (just that he is a very moral and just man who was chosen by his peers, by an inherently political act, to be the leader of the Church). That "Catholicism" has altered my socialization and personality somewhat...but I have also rejected large portions of it over time.
Similarly as a US citizen, I can say I am proud of my country's achievements, by and large, but that I am not so proud of my country in its mistreatment of certain individuals - the very individuals upon which it has based its power.
Therefore, the important point is not so much that the history, or knowledge and understanding of history, is important. Rather, it IS important that I have used ALL the histories that I am knowledgeable of to form a fluid sociological pattern of adaptation, change and growth.
I may have been a part of some groups, may be a part of others now, and will be a part of more in the future. The history of those groups does little in terms of forming my identity directly, nor are they particularly fulfilling, in and of themselves. Rather, it is how I use the knowledge I have gained of those histories to improve myself over time.
In that sense, the impact of the individual is meaningless. But I would argue that WITHOUT the individual, the history itself would be meaningless - since the group likely wouldn't exist (or it would be different).
Similarly, this applies to histories of other groups which I DON'T belong to. I have intensive knowledge of Judaism and Buddhism, yet I was never a member of those groups. However, knowledge of those histories plays a role in my overall growth, though the groups themselves don't.
As for the allegiance and interest in my Irish heritage...there is no inherent allegiance. Just interest. I suppose that is fulfilling. But so was studying Judaism. That doesn't make being a member of the group any more important. Just knowing about it is.
Basically, what I am trying to point out is that the groups themselves rely on the individual to form their "destiny". The individuals don't rely on the group. Therefore, while the history helps to develop individuals, the groups themselves don't HAVE to play a role....other groups can.
Think of it this way - you join a company as CEO and (though you know its history) you choose to apply knowledge gained from several other jobs you have held to alter this company's future. The company you have joined, therefore, has little importance (at least in terms of its history) now. What is important is the source of its future (which is now derived from several other inputs). |
