Sailing to Oblivion: June 5, 2017

It’s like history never happened for some folks, so here we go again.

Today, I worry about our ability to learn, not only to learn our “timeses” and “takeaways” as the old folks used to call them. That ability is under siege, of course. Only yesterday did our statewide newspaper report how at least ten state legislators accepted money to visit a rally by a group seeking universal "school choice," i.e  ending  public education and placing it in the hands of private and/or religious schools.

I worry that the common people of our future will be educated just enough to operate computers, repair robots, or, failing at those chores, to say “welcome to Bigmart.”

Equally troubling, though, is our apparent inability to learn the lessons of history.

It’s like we never learned of entire civilizations being brutally destroyed because of religious fervor. That would come as a hell of a disappointment to the ancient Midianites.

It’s like we never witnessed a Treaty of Versailles, in which each of the victorious countries of World War One vied for its own economic interest, with total disregard for the future of the losing countries.

It’s like we never witnessed the emergence and growth of the Nazi party that occurred because of the Treaty of Versailles.

It’s like we never witnessed the good people of a country stand silent as a national leader encouraged groups of thugs to attack political opponents and chosen scapegoats.

It’s like we never witnessed the result of a country that allowed, through apathy, cynicism, or selfishness, hate groups to germinate and flourish in its heartland.

It’s like we never witnessed the destruction that can be wrought by leaders who seek personal or party gain above the fellowship of unity.

One ends up being wearied to the bone by the daily efforts of keeping up with history, but terrified at the thought of stopping. That’s where I find myself today, June 7, 2017.

It's as if it never happened.