Should we edit history?
I am taken aback by the news locally that MD town aims to ‘desegregate’ WWI memorial. I do not agree with editing history. There are so many more important issues to deal with in today’s world, locally and nationally. Living in the past is not productive. We should, in my opinion, learn from the past and make changes for a better tomorrow. If we edit the truth aren't we doing an injustice to the people who have gone before us?
Past practices are despicable, because we know better today. Our ancestors did the best they could at the time. They acted on their beliefs, they learned and realized their mistakes and began changing. We have a long way to go to continue to change our way of thinking. Is focusing on the past and editing history really going to solve anything? There is no restart button. We have to behave better, respect better, and create a new community where we see the world as children do, with out color and without limitations.
How much money will be spent editing all monuments? I’m sure if there is one there will be more. How much good could be done with that same money? Food, housing, medical supplies, medical attention, the list goes on and on of people who need genuine help that could improve their quality of life with funds that will likely be spent on editing history.
Erasing objects and words doesn’t change things for the better. After all, the Confederate flag did no harm in the church in Charlestown, South Carolina. Neither did the gun. It was an individual's unexcusable actions that took the lives of nine people. Human behavior is what needs to change. Giving the power to and focusing on the objects does nothing. It’s people who need to change.
We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present. Otherwise we will destroy our future. Let’s not live for what yesterday has taken away.
What do you think?
Comments(0)