History expands our lives

Dear editor,

Most have forgotten prominent issues and events of our past. Few take effort in remembering major events and others give little effort remembering details of the past.

Whether by design, demand or laziness, we tend to short change our community history, overlook governmental history, and ignore our own family history. We remain overwhelmed by current activities, chores and commitments while failing to realize the value of what happened in past.

We busy our days with comforting issues. We approach the future with corrections, diversions and paradoxes as we follow our desires like a dear caught in headlights.  Unable to see beyond blinding present dilemmas, we divert and shun the past like a bad dream.

One factor of life, which cannot be changed, is "the past".  Most carry history like cloth wore-out clothes.  They are handy for cleaning up messes, but they have negligible impact or use for current and future needs. What was once a fine shirt, dress or pair of cotton socks become a tool to mop up dirt, grime, grease and spills before passing on to the landfill and oblivion.

But a man, a Senator of the Roman government, from 2,000 years ago, writes to remind us that history is indeed not just important but paramount.  He further expands his proclamation: "Those who knows not history, are children."

One trade today explains this clearly, the construction industry. The Egyptian pyramids still stand today.  Any engineer today worth his salt would have no problem using the same concepts, principals and methods of engineering in building today.  Materials have changed and tools are different but math calculations of structural designs have never changed.

Everything is or will soon be history.  But to learn of yesterday is to create, design and construct techniques and methods that become useful today.   Lessons that are proven and tried for our modern day designs are only reproductions of the past. 

It is insightful, endearing, comforting and tangible to duplicate and embrace history.  We can stand where someone else stood having the same thoughts, ideas, dreams and visions.

How enriching and comforting to embrace their knowledge, their challenge, their drive, there determination, while embracing our own unique ideas and dreams.  It’s comforting and commanding to realize the value of the rear view mirror.  Views out the front window of life are equal to the rear mirror.  The more we look back the more we understand tomorrow.

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Bagdad

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: History expands our lives