EDITORS' PREFACE
Sonoma State History Journal
Volume 27
Articles:
Fighting Racism by Punching Down
Language, Identity, and Memory
The Origins of Ukrainian History
Memory of The Great Irish Famine
Poetry:
Photo Essays:
Book Reviews:
Electronic Version:
As mainstream media, including The New York Times, declares the death of the English major (with the history major not far behind), and colleges and universities intent on turning higher education into technical training eliminate these subjects from their curriculum, the Sonoma State History Journal argues for the importance of the liberal arts. The creative and academic work contained in this volume testifies to the necessity and legitimacy of fields such as history, anthropology, and English as areas of study. Understanding our history is the key to recognizing its relevance in current events and a requirement for informed decisions to be made by all citizens. This journal focuses primarily on the study of history, and while to say “those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it” is a cliché, it remains accurate and compelling. Many of the conflicts explored in the journal not only connect to each other, but they relate to the world we experience around us.
The subjects covered in this journal are familiar to us. Over thirty years after the end of the Cold War, we once again find tension brewing between the United States and Russia, and with the invasion of Ukraine, we see a very visible act of modern-day imperialism. The works in this journal examine conflicts of the past that deal with nationalism, the media, and inequality. Today, we continue to see our conflicts often fostered by these same problems.
Currently, the country is experiencing sustained and multifaceted attacks on civil rights. We see this especially with the legislation introduced across America this year that directly attacks the existence of the LGBT+ community and the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Anti-trans rhetoric has long been a virus in this nation, as individuals living within states such as Texas and Arkansas are being told their mere existence is illegal. Echoes of past oppression continue to be heard today in similar forms, affecting different communities in the same way.
Recognizing the source of a problem is an important step to being able to solve it. With the study of disciplines like history, we can learn to recognize these causes. Although conflict will persist, knowledge of past conflicts can mediate future conflicts between opposing forces. We hope that you enjoy this issue of The History Journal and that it will stand as a testament to the relevance and usefulness of the liberal arts for both our society and the individual.
The Editors
May 2023