FORGETTING HISTORY

The Danger We Face

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

-      George Santayana

Doesn’t it seem odd that they teach so little history anymore?  I was fortunate to not have to memorize a ton of dates, but I did learn the stories and the consequences of various actions.  Later reading, both fiction and non, showed me that there are underlying truths in life that cannot be denied.  We are simply human.

Communism (and socialism)

Both have been attempted through history; neither have worked except to enrich the ruling parties.  Very much like royalty through the ages, the power of running these dictatorial regimes gives no benefit to the working people.  Venezuela is only the most recent example, but given the well-publicized suffering, starvation and death of its people, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could believe America could do it any better.  The reality is—we can’t.  The abuse of power during Covid shows us that even American-raised politicians will seize and keep any power they can wrest from us, despite our Constitution.

These political strategies also impact productivity.  Real world examples and multiple studies show that when you aren’t rewarded for hard work and others get rewarded for not working, all the toilers start working less.  We want to own our success, not give to “each according to his need.”

If kids were well-schooled in history, with highlights focused on failed systems, we would be a better state than we are now.  They glamorize the idea of equity as opposed to equality, ignoring the impact on those who are prime producers.  For those who don’t get this, please read “Atlas Shrugged,” by Ayn Rand.  Or for shorter attention spans, check out “Anthem.”  Same message.

Heroes and Role Models

Statue bashing is quite popular now, even removing/damaging statues of those who practiced the very virtues the vandals pretend to value.   The claim is that because these founders are flawed by our modern, woke sensibilities, they don’t deserve veneration.  But all people are flawed; we just are.  That doesn’t change the fact that many people sacrificed their reputation, their wealth and even their lives to produce the only country where one has a decent chance of improving their lot through hard work.  Remembering the deeds of our forefathers and understanding the “whys” is critical to making a successful plan for the future.  Humans have been around long enough to have examples of almost everything, with clearly documented successes and failures.  But if you don’t learn this from those who embodied those virtues, how will you recognize the current versions.  Time to stop honoring those who are “famous for being famous” and look at the modern-day role models who share values and virtues with our famous, now dishonored forefathers.

Assimilation

Unlike any other country, when you are a citizen or legal resident, you become an American.  Imagine living in Germany for several years.  Even as a citizen, you will never be German.  Being an American means something very special; it is an appellation of our shared values.  For many years, people understood this.  They came to America precisely to become American, to embrace our democratic republic, to benefit from capitalism, etc.

But now, we are instead supposed to accept people who are unwilling to ever learn our language (a requirement in almost every other country), to embrace our system and values and to enjoy their heritage without foisting it on others.  We tiptoe around the “needs” of new immigrants, expecting little of them, to our long-term detriment.  I remember meeting some Vietnamese refugees after the war; they all felt entitled to unlimited welfare as “Americans are rich.”  Our work ethic is diluted when too many are economic migrants.  And while most religious people experience discrimination and hate, all the way up the political ladder, Muslims are exempt and even encouraged to take over communities where they push their values on everyone else.  Read “Londonistan” to see how completely they took over England.

Assimilate or find another country. Our values led America to become the huge success it was over a relatively short period of time. As we abandon our system and values (thank you, Biden), we become less prosperous, less connected and less powerful.  China thanks you for refusing to become American.

Integration

When I was in school, the focus was on getting people of different backgrounds together, finding common interests and learning that even as someone looked different, they too could become a great friend and workmate.  Everything was focused on this, including mainstreaming Down’s syndrome kids with us in a few classes.  At first nervous around them, I came to appreciate the sheer joy they faced their challenges.  Their spirits were infectious.  They were also very well-behaved, a fact our parents repeatedly pointed out.

The focus was always on shared interests and what we had in common.  That helped bridge any gaps.  My school was almost entirely Jewish and while I was half-Jewish, my mother had us going to the Presbyterian Church.  There was one Catholic family, so a group of us enjoyed talking religion and comparing and contrasting what we knew (which was probably not all that much).  Our friendship brought us together to share our differences, not the other way around.

Now, people lead with their “victimhood,” instead of finding the common ground we all have.  This leads to more division, more anger, more hate and a huge step back from where we were in the ’60’s.  Integration works, but the Left always has to change the rules to cause division.  (They also succeeded in doing this when they created a variety of failed education

policies.  Parents pay a lot of money to private, afterschool programs to have their kids learn to read with phonics.)

The friendships we have began with things we had in common. The differences were the “spice” in the relationship.  We need to get back to this.

There’s Always More

Anyone who studies history always learns more about the human race.  We are inherently selfish, with our care extended to close friends and family, but not to the world at large.  It’s part of our nature.  Knowing that, you don’t design systems that ignore this.  You don’t idealize humans. 

When you understand the good and bad of people, you’ll discover that the American way, which includes capitalism to reward the hard-workers and a measured democracy that doesn’t allow the majority to trample on the minority, you’ll see that our Founders wisely addressed our limitations and designed our system around them.  Power corrupts, so they divided power between three co-equal branches of government.  However, they warned us on many occasions, but Ben Franklin said it best.

”A sturdy old woman wearing a shawl, approached Benjamin Franklin and asked him, “Well, Doctor, what do we have, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied sagely, “a republic, if you can keep it.”

Let’s keep it.