The Famous Five

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History is a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular person, group, country and period. From century to century and decade to decade, ideas, inventions, clothing, attitudes and other details about civilization can change drastically. Humans have limited time and memory, which is why one studies history. In 1927, a group now known as the Famous Five was formed. Society has both benefited and suffered, because of this group. However, history textbooks only included the benefits that this group has offered. In order to fully comprehend what happened in the past, we need to know history as a whole, and not solely a portion, because this misleads future generations and reveals the faults and inhumane behaviour…show more content…
However, when information is removed from textbooks, part of history is distorted. Due to this alteration of facts, the agony and despair felt by the victims of unimaginable and devastating acts would be forgotten. For example: “Leilani Muir was 10 when her mother committed her to Alberta’s Provincial Training School for Mental Defectives. On the Basis of a single IQ test, she was labeled a ‘moron’. Four years later, she was admitted to the school clinic, supposedly to have her appendix removed. It was years later that Muir learned that she had been sterilized.” (Unknown, The Sterilization of the Intellectually Challenged) The Famous Five are supposed to be a group that supports and aids others; ironically the Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act, that they helped to pass, was hurting others. If history books do not record everything, both negative and positive, the suffering and agony felt by Muir and others like her, will be forgotten. In doing so, everyone would live a lie; that all famous figures were and are perfect. Plus, Members of the Eugenics Movement saw themselves as nation-builders. They were idealists looking forward to build a nation free from poverty, feeble-mindedness, alcoholism, immorality, war, diseases, degeneracy, and a host of other social ills. Some women from the Famous Five also played a part. They believed that the human race could be improved through controlled breeding. (Unknown, Eugenics: Keeping Canada Sane) Many of today’s students have not heard of Eugenics since the history textbooks have removed this information. Eventually, the Eugenics Board will become a fantasy story/myth. Eugenics caused a lot of harassment and sorrow to the citizens of Alberta. If this information is removed, history would not be history any more; it would be a fairytale that one believed was the past. To avoid neglecting the

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