Distortion of Historical Facts

History stands on facts and its interpretations. It is generally considered that ‘all facts are constructed facts’. This problem with the historical facts opens the possibility of distortion of historical facts for promoting specific ideologies and agendas. This can be achieved by creating events that did not happen, altering events that did happen, or omitting events altogether. Over time, knowledge of historical truth will die with those who lived or witnessed it, and the alternate version will be universally accepted as true.

The distortions of historical facts could be due to the following factors:

• Historians have no direct contact with the events that he/she is dealing with
• Loss of records and archaeological evidence
• Politically and religiously motivated elements
• Historiography handled by non-professional and non-academic groups
• Ultra-Nationalism
• Cultural imperialism

Distorting history is an effective method of erasing events from the minds of the population. It is often, a conscious method of glorifying events and people in support of state ideals and vilifying events and people in conflict with state ideals. Presenting history in a way that supports the agenda of the state, and reinforcing it through the public education system and the media can be used to control the perceptions of the populace in ways that prevent dissent and promote nationalism.

The misinterpretation of history will make distorted versions of history. Vested interests misuse history to justify their own points of view. Manipulation of facts for the sake of justifying vested arguments is a common abuse of history. The main common forms of the distortion of history are:

• Altering historical truths
• Rewriting history with fabricated stories
• Manipulation of historical facts
• Using of history as propaganda and for inclusion and exclusion of people and groups

The distortion of historical facts creates a great threat to the discipline of history and the understanding of the past. Historical facts should not be distorted to further an agenda. Good historians do not preselect the evidence according to their point of view. The very act of choosing a fact over another makes it lose its authenticity. Although subjectivity and interpretation cannot be avoided, there is a need to keep both of them distinct.