History is written by those who hanged the heroes

History is written by those who hanged the heroes

The phrase "history is written by those who hanged the heroes" speaks to the idea that the victors in a conflict or struggle are the ones who ultimately shape the narrative of what happened. In many cases throughout history, those who have been deemed heroes by one side are often vilified or marginalized by the opposing side. This can lead to a skewed or biased version of events being passed down through generations, with the true heroism of certain individuals being overshadowed or erased altogether.

One of the most famous examples of this phenomenon can be seen in the way that Native American history has been portrayed in the United States. For centuries, Native Americans were portrayed as savages and obstacles to progress by European colonizers, who sought to justify their conquest and exploitation of indigenous lands. Native American heroes and leaders were often demonized or ignored in historical accounts, while the actions of European settlers were glorified and celebrated.

Similarly, in the context of wars and conflicts, the victors often write the history books in a way that portrays their enemies as villains and themselves as heroes. This can be seen in the way that World War II is taught in many Western countries, with the Allies being portrayed as the saviors of the world and the Axis powers as evil aggressors. The contributions of resistance fighters and freedom fighters from occupied countries are often downplayed or ignored in favor of highlighting the actions of the major powers.