Monumental Mistake by Boyd Matheson
Much has been made of late regarding monuments and statues. The fight is framed as one addressing heritage, history and fatally flawed leaders, along with heroines and heroes defined by human frailties and moral mistakes. It seems as though some are bent on banishing the lessons of history into oblivion by tearing down statues, while others are attacking monuments in order to undermine America’s founding, founders and foundational documents. It is all a monumental mistake.
That which we ignore or forget our children will not know, and what our children do not know our grandchildren will not possess. This is true of the principles of freedom and the attributes that constitute human greatness. Conversely, forgetting horrific moments of weakness, cowardice or prejudice likewise doom future generations to repeat painful patterns and embrace evil attitudes.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan wrote in The Wall Street Journal, “Defacing, tearing down and hiding statues and portraits is today’s version of Puritan book-burning. Our children need to know their country’s past, its normative figures and their virtues and vices. That’s how we learn and pass on our story.”
Human beings are incredibly complex. Understanding even those personally closest to us is difficult at best. Truly and accurately understanding figures from another time and place is nearly impossible. All people consist of a cosmic mixture of human and divine. Pure motives to do good and purely political motives for personal power have combined to drive many extraordinary leaders throughout history. Saints and sinners are often found within a single soul.
Understanding history, historic figures and ourselves requires a deeper dive into the complexity of people, how transformation occurs over time and a great deal of patience in order to comprehend the nature of nuance. Every piece selected for this week’s newsletter will help you learn something new from the past while creating a space to build a better future.
Remember: See something that inspires. Say something that uplifts. Do something that makes a difference.
That which we ignore or forget our children will not know, and what our children do not know our grandchildren will not possess. This is true of the principles of freedom and the attributes that constitute human greatness. Conversely, forgetting horrific moments of weakness, cowardice or prejudice likewise doom future generations to repeat painful patterns and embrace evil attitudes.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan wrote in The Wall Street Journal, “Defacing, tearing down and hiding statues and portraits is today’s version of Puritan book-burning. Our children need to know their country’s past, its normative figures and their virtues and vices. That’s how we learn and pass on our story.”
Human beings are incredibly complex. Understanding even those personally closest to us is difficult at best. Truly and accurately understanding figures from another time and place is nearly impossible. All people consist of a cosmic mixture of human and divine. Pure motives to do good and purely political motives for personal power have combined to drive many extraordinary leaders throughout history. Saints and sinners are often found within a single soul.
Understanding history, historic figures and ourselves requires a deeper dive into the complexity of people, how transformation occurs over time and a great deal of patience in order to comprehend the nature of nuance. Every piece selected for this week’s newsletter will help you learn something new from the past while creating a space to build a better future.
Remember: See something that inspires. Say something that uplifts. Do something that makes a difference.
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