We are analyzing if Agustin de Iturbide, in the history of the Independence of Mexico, contributed for the sake of improving the new country or maybe just for personal reasons. If it is indeed the case of the latter, is still correct to call someone a "national hero," when he/she was just looking of for their own best interest?
Read Jorge Luis Borges´s short story, "Tema del traidor y del héroe" (Theme of the Traitor and the Hero). There you will learn that whether a man is a hero or even a traitor depends on the outlook of the historian. So gather all the data and let them guide you to what you think is the better interpretation. Build your argument from there while aware that someone else could use the same information to reach a different conclusion. In making your argument, be modest and non-dogmatic.
Thank you, Nelson, for your recomendation. It is hard in the History of Mexico to distinguish between a "hero" and a person who gave the life for an idea of a country, specially in Mexico where the goverment sometimes try to hide the truth to embed myths. I like your last recomendation: be modest and non-dogmatic. Thanks again.
Dear Mario,
In my courses, I have defined a "hero" as an individual who embodies the most esteemed values of a society at a given period. How to determine these values? Probably from newspaper editorials of Iturbide´s time. To the degree that Iturbide espouses these values, he is a hero. To the degree that he does not, he is self-seeking.
Gather your facts about his life and see if the heroic values motivate him. Your conclusion will be "to a degree, yes" and "to a degree, no." If "yes" preponderates, you can make a good case for him being a hero. If "no" predominates, then you can argue that he was merely being selfish.
Thanks, very interesting analysis. I could make the same thing with others like Benito Juarez, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Porfirio Diaz and a long line of names that our history sometimes has in a mistery; and for his memory and actions, they should be recognized.
Life is neither all black nor all white, but many shades of gray. No politician is all hero nor all self-seeking. If you use a single rigorous method to analyze all the politicians that you named, Mario, you will go down in history yourself as a disciplined historian.
Thank you for all your recomendations, I am beginning with this passion (History) and with your words I feel like I am receiving a good advice from one of the best teachers of the University. Thank you for sharing your experience.
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