History is a Discipline

I realize that this might get tedious but this misuse of history really has to stop

history upended Mr. Mubarak and in the end, which came as suddenly and surprisingly as his unlikely elevation to the presidency, he was forced to resign.

History isn't a disembodied force upending icons and stability nor yet is it a diverse group of actors demanding the same thing.  History is some guy or gal in the archives long after the event under consideration occurred trying to piece together a plausible analysis based on an accurate narrative using primary and secondary sources. The folks standing together and demanding the same thing are motivated by diverse impulses and interests and if the journalists and pundits continue on blurring this reality by appeal to some non-existent entity, history as the agent of historical change, all that they accomplish is misinforming folks about what is going on.