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Lots of folks consider history to be irrelevant. “It’s just a bunch of boring names, dates, and places. Big deal!” They’re partially right. It’s about as relevant to know the name of King Tut’s grandpa as it is to know the name of Henry VIII’s dead wives. It’s about as important to know the date of the Norman Conquest as it is to know the date of the invention of the bicycle. It’s about as vital to know the place of Alexander the Great’s birth as it is to know the location of the capitol of Iron Age Mongolia. But names, dates, and places are but one small aspect of “history.” History is an over-all knowledge of the human race; past and present. History is knowing that oppressed people will always long for freedom, and will fight to gain their freedom. History is knowing that a government which is tolerant of oppression and slavery will always be crushed. History is knowing that humanity has always, and will always, worship God or gods. History is knowing that a government based on atheism will soon collapse. History is knowing that humans have great weaknesses and great strengths. History is knowing how to learn from our weaknesses and how to build our strengths. Sometimes history is not even as far-reaching as all that. History can be knowing what it was like when your grandparents made the scene. My grandparents told me that when they were starting their family, the thought never entered their minds to lock their door when they left their house. And they lived in Detroit! History is knowing that when my parents were young their conversations about their “careers” centered around service occupations such as nurses, teachers, doctors, civil service, and the military – not about mega-money jobs with mega-perks and mega-power. History is knowing that when my dad was 17 he signed up to fight for his country, and for all humanity, against racist and Godless Nazism and imperialist Japanese religious fanaticism. Sixteen million fellow Americans went with him and hundreds of thousands of American soldiers died horrible and lonely deaths to preserve freedom. History is knowing that after we kicked butt on the Nazis and the “Nips,” we stuck around for many years to teach the people how to govern themselves. History is knowing that during my parent’s generation, “divorce” was still a shocking word and it was illegal to slaughter unborn human babies by the tens of millions. History is knowing that during my parent’s generation the rate of sexually transmitted diseases was declining, suicide and drug abuse were almost nonexistent, gangsterism was found only in the ghettos of large cities, cursing, sex, and nudity was forbidden on television, and it was much easier to topple corrupt and immoral religious and political leaders. History is the knowledge a young person should have so he can make comparisons about the events of a generation ago versus the events of today, and why these events are so different. And lastly, history can be as simple as remembering what happened last year so that this year’s history-twisters can’t fool you into believing a lie. *For the living and the dead we must bear witness. Elie Wiesel (2349) *Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. George Santayana (2232) *Falsification of history of history has done more to impede human development than any one thing known to mankind. Rousseau (523) (The History Channel recently said that there were no Christians killed in the Roman Coliseum. It was all just a myth. And all this time we thought Nero was a meany!) *Whoever controls the past controls the future. (2852) (George Orwell) *The greatest miracle in the history of mankind is the existence of the modern-day state of Israel. (2247) Joyful Noise #9 |