Posted: Jun 28, 08 9:30am
Why study history?
This is a question that any student must ask himself for any discipline that he or she plans to undertake. It is important to understand the direction in which you travel. If for no other reason than to simply not run off the road and damage your car.
My "car" in this case is the vehicle in which my future rides. That is, my life. I am on a journey that will complete my life. Now, knowing what you wish to do with that life is essential to knowing which direction to travel in, which turns to take and it helps to know what kind of car you are driving.
Well, I was on the disabled bus. I'm getting off because I don't like the ride. The wheels are bald, shocks are gone and every bump in the road feels like running over another car! This is disability in America and that invites further discussion of itself. Suffice it to say that I'm tired of it and want something better for my wife and I.
What would that be, exactly? What do we want to do when we're 80?
I don't much care about the money except for the stability and peace of mind that it provides. But, what I do care about is education and where we, as a race have been. Those are very important issues today. Mostly, where we have been. That helps us understand where we are going or will be going. The most noble and noteworthy thing we may do is to leave a better place for those who follow us. Taking our own next step, or leading the steps of others absolutely requires that we understand the steps that will bring us the desired results. And those results include peace, prosperity and other Constitutional ideals. Our forefathers knew the future. They at least knew the best path to take.
Our forefathers studied history. Ideas of John Locke, Plato, Aristotle and many other notable philosophers went into framing this country and its Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Most of our government buildings are designed in Roman style. It's obvious that we are a nation built upon knowledge of history.
If we are to maintain this way of life, then we must continue that pattern. A pattern based on reason, knowledge and history. You can not know where you are going unless you know where you have been. I hope you already know that that quote is not my own... you've seen or heard it before. It's a matter of history.
Now is a time of a thousand choices. Many more turns have been added to the road. Many of those turns will provide opportunity whereas others will lead us to ruin. It's difficult to know which turn to take. But, it is more imperative now, than ever to understand the world in which we live... and have lived and to make an informed decision.
I love history. And I love what it can do for me, the way I feel and the way it guides me. But, what I like best is the pitfalls and bumps in the road that it helps me to avoid. And, I'd love to be able to teach that to others so they can find their footing in this jungle of choices.
So, I will be a teacher of history, math, science... or anything that I have knowledge enough to share because knowledge is not necessarily power but, confidence. "Confidence" is a moral translation of power or knowledge... of history. "Teaching" is what the moral and confident being will do with his power. It is a profession of civilization. It is a profession that I hold dear. It is a profession of civil responsibility.
