Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Studying History

Why is there such a forgetfulness and apathy in our society today, especially among young people, of our past? Why should we try to remember what happened in our history and in the history of other peoples?

Our past should be remembered in order to inspire us to be better people today. It should not stop at a simple head knowledge of facts and dates, which is what many people I've met stereotype the study of history as. No! It has to be much more than that! It has to touch people's hearts as well as their minds. It should remind them that the people who have gone on before us have struggled through some of the same struggles that we face in our own lives. That some of those people rose above their fears and made a difference of one kind or another, and that they were not gods, but ordinary people such as you and I.

The study of history should be more akin to story-telling, albeit with a serious attempt to not embellish what happened, than essays on the causes of the coming and going of kingdoms.

There is so much to learn from the past; the struggles, and failures and triumphs. Could it be that we have made the study of it too boring?

Jp

2 comments:

Rodney said...

Been watching more John Adams,
haven't you? :)

Safe journey!

niferjen said...

Actually, it did have to do with 'Adams' in a roundabout way. My younger coworker didn't know who he was... (and besides flabergasting me, it started me thinking)

:)

Thanks!