Photo by Giammarco Boscaro from Unsplash
History is more than just a subject in school. It is more than just the heroes and ancestors. If you look into it closely, history isn’t a study of others. It is the part of who you are as it tells the intrinsic relationship of humans and society. Above all, it shows how past events shaped our very world. You may not be directly affected by it, but how the people of the past lived their lives affects you today. Even historical fiction serves the same purpose and lesson.
Thus, forgetting history can be considered a crime.
But what if it happens?
The bigger question is, are people forgetting history now?
What Happens if You Forget History?
History is the chronology of events. If you forget, ignore, or refuse to believe it, you neglect a portion of who you are. If you look at the bigger picture, you’ll realize that you are the dreams and aspirations of your ancestors. The liberty you enjoy and the progress you make are all built upon the foundations laid by those who came before you. Forgetting history may result in various irreversible consequences.
In Circles: You Are Likely to Repeat It
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
-George Santayana
Looking back at the past is taking a glimpse of what to do and whatnot. If you forget a specific part, you’ll be repeating history. You will be in circles or the same cycle, suggesting you never learn. Not learning from it implies that you disregard the oppressions, violations, and shadows of history.
Since it’s round like circles, it’s predictable. It’s not a merry-go-round. It never will be. But bear in mind that you can change the cycle and pattern. You have every autonomy to do that.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Have you tried climbing the hill, progressing on each step only to trip, roll, and end up back at the bottom?
Well, the same logic applies to forgetting history. You are making one step forward, two steps back. The weight of a forgotten yesterday will hold you back. It’s like there’s movement, but there’s no movement at all. Nevertheless, it hinders the progress of life.
You wouldn’t want to be stuck, right?
So, make history a guiding tool, perhaps a compass, in moving forward. This way, you may trip and stumble on the roads ahead but never roll back and be lost.
Why Are People Forgetting History?
You can’t immediately say it’s because of short-term memory or amnesia. The reasons behind this range from personal preferences to cultural influence. It could be deliberately done or just outgrown by time.
Selective by Nature: What to Believe?
Have you tried picking fruits in the market or harvesting them on the farm? Either way, you always choose the good and the best and refuse to get the bad or the rotten ones.
But history doesn’t work that way.
History is getting everything in the basket, regardless of whether it’s the best or the rotten. It is not for you to pick or select. It exists for you to take lessons from.
Behind the light of history, there are shadows behind. Others refuse to believe the dark side of history. Humans tend to be skeptical despite being confronted with facts. This might be because what’s presented to them is insufficient to believe. They may have biases. Or perhaps they’re uncomfortable with the truth. But you cannot bury the truth. It will come out. It will always prevail.
Historical novels about theft and murder, like Pamela Roberts Lee’s The Darkness at Dawn, unravel a story of witnessing a gruesome situation and carrying an uncomfortable truth. The weight will haunt him because he had it for a long time. The book shows you can’t select history or which part you will only retain in your memory.
The Art of Letting Go: Forgive and Forget
To forgive and forget is a common phrase usually heard when discussing topics about love. You have to forgive someone, forget their wrongdoings, and eventually forget them.
They call this the art of letting go.
However, some prefer to forgive only to achieve peace of mind but never forget the situation. In history, to both forgive and forget means leaving the stories of the past behind and throwing them into oblivion.
This applies directly to certain past leaders and societies with histories of atrocity, oppression, and abuse. Today’s leaders and citizens must learn from these dark chapters. History etched these lessons in the chambers of time to remember them.
Forgetting history would give individuals with similar destructive ambitions the opportunity to repeat these atrocities and perpetuate harm.
When we forget history, we not only risk repeating past mistakes but also disrespect the sacrifices and struggles of those who came before us—those who suffered injustice, fought for equality and pursued change.
Into the Dawn
The break of dawn is within the pages. Grab a copy of The Darkness at Dawn by Pamela Roberts Lee and slowly untangle the truth in the troubled threads of time. Will the darkness at dawn prevail? Secure a copy by clicking here to find out!
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