There are those who make random references to past; to events and people alike without the necessary caution and knowledge of the characteristics and facts about such past. In part, some of these references are made as a means of playing to the gallery and also currying favour, in an attempt to be seen as not only knowledgeable about the past, but appearing falsely as though one understands the happenings of our history. Sadly, the naked truth surfaces and draws such individuals to the spotlight that exposes and separates manipulators from teachers.
I suppose that's a small price they pay for handling history incorrectly, that they are exposed and shamed. These people fail to understand that history is a precious gift from those who came before us, who among them, others failed to exercise care and love but rather instigated and perpetrated violence, hatred and annihilation of other races.
I shall not satisfy the urge to delve into the past to ululate in celebration of the successes of those who came before us and did incredibly well for our today; nor would I antagonise the evils of yesterday. At the same time, I would not become part of history by carving myself into the past by way of analysing and contextualising it, perhaps ultimately distorting it through subjective perspective or some socialisation that I can attribute to my upbringing and everything I have come to learn.
I will therefore put it forward that history is so important and precious that all of us who descended from those who created it for different reasons, need to learn all of it so as not to repeat it in any way possible, especially when it's bitter and sad.
I believe the advancement of individuals in this hi-tech society should not only rest on the prowess and appeal of technology, whose rise and speed is mercurially perilous to the extent of overshadowing and concealing essential history which we need in the same degree as human advancement. Some people tend to live for the joys of the present and neglect events of the past, which when preserved, could teach invaluable lessons about how we can best live our lives in shaping a better tomorrow.
Parallel to this seemingly infinite possibility of technological advancement, partners are needed. We therefore have to juxtapose the importance of technology and civilisation to that of history, so that any form of disparities where attention and cult status are given to either, can be exposed for all to see and such imbalances be corrected or eradicated altogether.
Events of the past, which are characterized by great affliction, pain and sorrow on one side, and great happiness and wonder on the other, should be commemorated not to make people who may descended from the part of history that were instigators feel guilty. Instead, we should all learn from those events and incorporate those lessons in our present which we will leave behind for tomorrow's children.
All in all, what I seek to drive across here is that history needs to be looked at as a whole, as all events are related one way or another. It also needs to be taught at the speed akin to that of technological advancements. At the same time, programmes of therapeutic nature in forgiveness and reconciliation need to run alongside these partnered ventures. This way, as impossible as it seems but equally achievable, we can create a better history for our own descendants.
Deon Simphiwe Skade (C) 2010
This article was first published on Ezine @rticles
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