Bias in the Museums

         As someone who has spent their life within the United States, I have become accustomed to the portrayals and memorabilia throughout the nation. Now that I have traveled across the world and landed in London to study, I have begun to realize and observe how differently nations portray the same events. The Second World War is highly recognized and studied but the British and the United States, although allies in the war, have a different take and point of view.

            The United States often has WWII memorabilia and museums that demonstrate entering the war from December 7, 1941 as an unstoppable and driving force. The US is portrayed as well organized and already planned without flaws in sight, but the truth cannot be found within the bias walls of an American museum, but in the museums of other Allied forces halfway across the world. British propaganda signs were scattered throughout the Imperial War Museum stating things such as “The Yanks aren’t coming. Get ready boys.” This was a way to take a stab at the American forces for not joining the war before Pearl Harbor while also advertising to get more British enlistment. Often times, Churchill did not agree with the thoughts or actions of the American military forces but was forced to come to terms with them under a compromise. The American forces wanted to enter the war at full strength and brutally fight back the Germans, while the British had a more tactical and effective approach of deception attacks that would save thousands of lives. American museums do not demonstrate or give credit to the British powers for their ideas and strategies in war.

            This analysis can bring many to the idea that the British would have survived the war and won without the American forces. American museums demonstrate their numbers and strength is what turned the war around, while British museums will not acknowledge how desperately they needed the American forces. Although Pear Harbor was a devastating day, it was a mere blessing for the Allied Powers because the American forces came in with the idea of “Germany First. Then Japan” which allowed for central focus to be on the Germans.

 Both the United States and Britain use bias in their displays. The British do not fully acknowledge the need for American forces and the Americans do not fully acknowledge their mistakes and adaptation to British ideology for the better. Each display allows a new form of information while also providing a bias. Combating a bias is only possible to see it from both sides.

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