How History Can Shape the Future
“The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality”~Elizabeth Cady Stanton
I am a self confessed history geek. I love history. All kinds. I don’t believe in past lives, but I am drawn to certain decades more than others. Early American history 1770-1800, women’s history and the suffragettes, the gilded age, the 1920’s and 30’s( mostly for the style and movies). As with everything I do, learning about these and other time periods brings me great joy. We must not forget the past, nor the people who lived through it.
The Buildings
Seeing older, abandoned buildings, I want to know more about what it was like when it was first built. What was it used for, who lived or worked there? What happened to cause it to be no longer in use. I want to know what kind of people lived in an old house. Where they worked, were they happy there, what circumstance caused them to leave the home, sometimes leaving their belongs, where did they go and why is it no one bought or restored it.
“History, despite it’s wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again”~Maya Angelou
Ghost Signs
Passing some buildings, mostly brick, I search for old signs. Some are barely visible and some have layers of advertising through the years. These give us a glimpse of the past. How people lived, what and how they purchased. Fashions and lifestyles. An anthropologist’s dream. Or perhaps, an archaeologist. Both study history and how people lived to an extent.
Through learning about the past, we gain understanding of what worked and what doesn’t. How not to make the same mistakes.
“History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.”~Alexis de Tocqueville
Older buildings have charm and character not found in today’s build it fast world. Historic places are being demolished in the name of progress and modernization. New is not always better.
Heritage of a City
Preserving our heritage is also practical. Materials can be recycled and reused, thereby continuing the aesthetic look of the city. This is what gives a unique, rich character. Having roots also makes us feel like we have ties to the community.
“History isn’t about dates and places and wars, it’s about the people who fill the spaces between them”~Jodi Picoult
Biographies and Documentaries
Biographies and documentaries are great sources of learning. Almost like a living history where you are in the shoes of another seeing life through their eyes. Reading a biography is my favorite, as I am also a book worm. Rich and detailed information on a past generation. A documentary can take you visually into another time. My favorites are books about inventors, movie stars and people who have changed the world.
“Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it”~Edmond Burke
Of course not all of history is good and therefore we must learn from the mistakes of our forefathers and make sure not to repeat it. Removing stories from books and monuments and not teaching certain lessons in classrooms does not remove what happened. We must not forget the pain, but teach our children the wrong and what makes it wrong and to not let it happen again.
“We cannot escape History”~Abraham Lincoln
A television show I love is Finding Your Roots with Dr. Henry L. Gates, Jr. , about genealogy. Knowing your personal history and where you come from is very important.
I will leave you with a quote from another American President. Leave a comment about your favorite part of history. Like and share.