Ralph Waldo Emerson, someone you'll meet this year, writes in his essay "History:"
The student is to read history actively and not passively; to esteem his own life the text, and books the commentary. Thus compelled, the Muse of history will utter oracles, as never to those who do not respect themselves. I have no expectation that any man will read history aright, who thinks that what was done in a remote age, by men whose names have resounded far, has any deeper sense than what he is doing to-day.
In many respects, Emerson captures our philosophy of American Studies, and our blog will be a place to make connections between our world and the content of this course -- to use Emerson's words, "to esteem [our] life the text."
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