What History Won't Remember

When visiting historical landmarks, it's kind of wild to learn about what they once were, isn't it? To see something ancient and massive, something that's existed for hundreds or thousands of years before, and may last for hundreds or thousands of years after - it's makes you realize your place in time and what we're capable of. Having these historic sites become tourist attractions, or seeing medieval works of art in a museum, there was a part of me, while playing tourist, looking at all these things, it brought out a sort of sadness in me. It's amazing to see historic things yes, and learn about the lives of people past is crazy and wild, how we can still know these things because of how much we value information. But it wasn't always like this. There is so much in history that we'll never know about because there were no records, no stories passed down, no people to talk to. There's so many missing pieces of history, and we're somehow supposed to live on without ever knowing. And we have been living on without ever knowing.

Every new discovery is certainly exciting, and every new piece we are able to find in the ruins gives us a new glimpse, another insight into the story of times long past. Yet I still wonder...there's so much to learn from the past - there are things we must remember in order for the present to achieve its full potential, but sometimes, I wonder, wouldn't it be nice to let things be? To let things continue on? To rebuild and celebrate instead of awe and mourn?

The Roman Forum was a beautiful place with a beautiful view. And it was interesting to hear the tour guide when she said that this land wasn't always just one thing. As time progressed, things changed, things got destroyed, and rebuilt. The land was reused, even just considered a place to retrieve reusable resources for reconstruction. But at some point that opinion changed. Its age and memories made it important all of sudden, and we decided to preserve it in its ruinous state, keep it well-kept enough that one can enjoy a pleasant walk through the grounds, but there is no reason anymore to rebuild. The past must be protected. What could have become of it all if we didn't care about that? How much would we be losing if those stories and memories were gone? What did we really lose when the Library of Alexandria burned down? What will we forget with the destruction of Notre Dame?

There's so much about our lives that people won't remember. There are so many mundane facts and days that pass by. Some of us will never wave hello to our mothers on national television, or be at the site of a cataclysmic event. Some of us will never have an interview or perform a live concert in front of thousands of people. We'll all have parts of us that history won't remember. Even if it really wanted to. Did Eliza Hamilton really know the impact of what burning her letters would do? Did Genghis Khan ever fathom that he'd be the obsession of a 17-year old history buff? We know the most important and influential figures by what they did and how they shaped our societies. But we still can't know everything.

How interesting will your biography be? Will you write it yourself or will you have lived a life so interesting someone would write it for you, perhaps years after you're gone? We admire what remains of the ancient world because we too want to believe we can withstand time. Proclaiming on concrete buildings, we were here. We know that no one's ever truly gone so long as someone remembers. But when we do leave, when our time does come to face the eternal unknown, how could we possibly care? The dead cannot feel things as the living do.

There are parts that history won't remember. Ugly parts and beautiful parts. Scary parts and comforting parts. We might find today to be the day that changes our lives but maybe history will get the date wrong. Maybe things will be out of order when they recall the words. Maybe all the movies that influenced your masterwork will be forgotten, or the tune of the song you wrote lost to the noise of your own head. Maybe we'll only remember the lyrics. Maybe everything will get lost in translation.

But even then - live. Even then - do. Even then - make mistakes. Even then - tell the truth.

Cause we don't need to prove anything to history.

History's our proof.

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Imma be real - I don't know what I just wrote. I was just thinking on a car ride about how weird we are to preserve ruins, giant arenas where thousands of people died, places that don't really fulfill their purposes anymore because they've turned into tourist attractions. And why we admire these places so much. They're great to see, even magical, but what causes those feelings? We're protecting things that we really had no part of, and we have no obligation to, if we're being honest. Yet we do these things - why?

That ending's a bit funny, it started to sound a bit like a poem and I was contemplating writing one with this title as well. But I dunno, I felt like a needed more words to explain what I meant (and even then, I didn't do a very good job, did I?)

Well, happy almost end of summer school. Finals awaits as well as one more month to try to have fun but also panic about the ever approaching deadline that is university applications and determining what you're going to do with the rest of your life.

Anyways, I hope this post was...at least a bit interesting? I dunno, whatever, goodbye.

Stay salty.

#alittlebitofrandom