Our History. Today people seem intent on removing all memories of our history. They are destroying statues, burning buildings, and demonstrating against everything and anything. Alas, don’t they realize that without the memory of the past, there will be nothing to demonstrate against in the future? Without the past, there is only Today and what happens today.
For me, History was always a groaner class in high school. Maybe it was for you too. Why? Because it is only with dates to memorize, and without conceptual meaning to the events. Without understanding the past. Without learning from our mistakes from the past, we have no guidelines on how to face the future. No guidelines of things that we should be aware of.
Demonstrations to Destroy History
The demonstrators today are bent on destroying or removing all reminders of America’s jaded past. Without these reminders of the wrong they represent, there is no incentive to ward against repetition in the future. And for sure, there were some very despicable wrongs in our past. These wrongs were not limited to African Americans. What about the American Indians and the land that has been taken from them? And what about the Chinese who were brought to this country as a labor force to build the railroads?
When the Irish came to this country, they were not welcomed. And what about Puerto Ricans? What about the Islamic people? The Jews? All groups have faced hardships, but through good behavior and hard work, each group has become a valued member of our society.
Burning a building or destroying a piece of art – a magnificent statue – there is no reminder that the person depicted in that statue did despicable things. When you destroy things it solves nothing but perhaps to vent your anger. It is like throwing a glass at a wall. When the temper tantrum is over, you have only the glass to clean up from the floor. When you burn a building, you will have only years of higher taxation to pay to rebuild it.
Lead by Positive Example
Why not try to lead by a positive example? Show people why you matter, because, I agree you do. Each person matters in making a cohesive whole. But if one-half of the group is displaying only poor behavior, that group will not have a positive value.
We cannot look to a better future unless we all work together toward that goal.
#history
