YESTERDAY
Now - today - seems important, doesn't it?
What about tomorrow? You have special plans for that, don't you? But, it is what you were yesterday that determines what your present and future are to be.
Don't knock history. Don't demean it in any way. Don't worship it as an icon of miracle potential, either. Above all, don't depend on it and it alone, either!
The present phase of our lives is a fleeing fantasy in some ways. It will be gone in moments. It can be so elusive, at times, as to seem meaningless – something happening “out-of-context - within frame work holding a the canvas on which our lives are being sketched; outlines, you might say, of our dreams, ambitions, aspirations and capabilities to be blended in strange way and uses as foundational material for our tomorrows. The excitement of it all is to be found in the fact that is be found along the way. How I started this page determines how it will end . ,
The study of history is vital.
In recent times we, as a nation , have tended to reject even the casual reading of the history of our country and with relationships of our nation with other world powers. We have come to a point where we actually welcome”now' thinking any other form. It is now all too common to find our children being instructed in history related to some narrow, partisan, social or religious view. Dwelling, for instance, on such topics as Black History to the exclusion of other elements is both costly and dangerous. serous. Such heavy emphasis can actually alienate potential friends of just about any movement - environmental topics, finance, or any other topic.
If you talk about actions taken you are talking about the past. These little niches of history we tend to glamorize may be entertaining; even stepping stones to better elements with a wider scope, but intense, detailed study is required, too. Without it, we deny ourselves and our children the key to our cultural treasures and insult those oldsters who lived those events we speak of so casually.
To live well in the future we have to be aware of how we have lived in the past. Reflection on how we did it the last time might help us to make redemptive choices.
Samuel Johnson in his book “Rassalas has his philosopher-poet Princess Nekayah observe: “the truth is that no mind is much employed upon the present; recollections and anticipations fill up almost all of our moments.”
Right on, Princess!.
A.L.M. January 13, 2005 [c424wds]
