Okay. Um. Since I saw this post yesterday, my inner history nerd has been squirming. Partially because I'm always afraid people get annoyed at me when I put my history hat on and say "Actually...", and partially because I haven't read enough on the subject to have an ~opinion and am therefore not even close to an authority here.
I have not made a study of the French Revolution. However, the impression I've gotten about Robespierre from folks who have is that he was one of the few members (the only member?) of the Committee of Public Safety who tried to rein in the Terror (Geddit. Rein in? Reign of? Sorrythatwasterrible.); he did not in fact have the authority of a dictator; he really was all about equality and religious freedom; he tried his best to save the innocents who were arrested by his colleagues (enemies?); he fought hard for a true Republic as long as he was able; and that when the Revolution went to heck, after he was executed, others hung the whole thing on his neck to save themselves.
I am also quite ready to believe that he has been misrepresented and misconstrued in the years since; this happens far, far too often. Look at Richard III. He's one of the main things/people that got me all passionate (I rarely use that word to describe myself, rarely) about history. HE WAS INNOCENT GUYS. REALLY. HE'S ALSO AWESOME. But I haven't spoken about him on here 'cause I'm really anti-confrontational and also inarticulate when I'm worked up and it hurts me when folks say mean things about him.
As I said, though, I am not very knowledgeable on the subject. If you want to know a bit more about Robespierre's role in the French Revolution (or at least understand what I am pretty sure was the context from which Hugo spoke) from someone who knows what she's talking about, read this post, this one, and perhaps this one. (The first one has some language I think, sorry 'bout that.)
P.S. It may not be strictly obvious, but I don't just like history because it's pretty and it makes me sad. Though those reasons are part of it. I love history because I believe that the truth matters. As little as it may seem to affect us today, whether Richard Plantagenet killed his nephews or not matters. Whether Robespierre was a bloody-thirsty tyrant or not matters. At least it does to me. How would you like to be remembered (and reviled) for having committed someone else's crime?
P.P.S. This is why I try and do my best to understand the context of every historical event or person I come across, and reserve my judgment until I think I have. Even then, I try to stay open to new information or a different perspective. There is really just so much that we don't know about the past. Something one must remember is that no matter how well-preserved the record is (and they rarely are well-preserved), no matter how "objective" the historian, there will always be a gap between our understanding and what really happened. The width may vary, but it will always be present.
P.P.P.S.The people who lived before us were real, flesh and blood people, with real, flesh and blood problems; they walked this same earth and thought and lived and died here. And it matters.
P.P.P.P.S. Sorry, this post went a little beyond what I originally intended. I think are you both awesome, lovely people. I just had some history!feels.
P.P.P.P.P.S. Okay and this is when I hide because expressing myself about things that matter to me as much as history does scares me silly. And also I'm scared because should I have just messaged you both but then I kinda want other folks to see this too but what if folks see this gosh other folks might see this goodness gracious I'm such a derp. *hides*
