Embracing Unpleasant Truths: Why Erasing History Isn’t the Answer
How to use the hardest difficults of our past to positively shape our future.
Cancel culture is a poison that can kill an entire nation. In a world that often encourages seeking comfort and avoiding discomfort, embracing unpleasant truths can be unsettling, yet it is necessary.
As a humanities professor, erasing or sanitizing history, particularly its darker aspects, has gained traction as a solution to address past wrongs. We must confront history, no matter how uncomfortable, as it is essential for growth, understanding, and progress.
The Purpose of History: Beyond Personal Feelings
The heart of this perspective lies in recognizing that history is not here for personal feelings of comfort or peace of mind. History exists to be learned from, even when it offends. The argument against erasing public monuments and books or renaming government facilities on the principle that something or someone was "offensive" in the past will not solve complex problems today. Sanitizing is good for our physical health but toxic when removing historical artifacts.
Acknowledging the discomforting elements of our past is vital to prevent their repetition. Just as personal growth often involves confronting one's own mistakes, societal progress necessitates recognizing and understanding the errors of the past.
Renaming Military Installations: Symbolic Change or True Progress?
A notable example in recent times is the renaming of military installations with ties to controversial historical figures. Of considerable note, Ft. Hood and Ft. Bragg are two of the most prominent military facilities in the United States that have had their names changed due to an association with Confederate generals.
While the intent was to signal progress and inclusivity, it prompts a more profound question: Can erasing history truly pave the way for a more equitable future? I would answer with a profound "No." This assumption is a simple-minded approach.
Since the name changes have occurred at these prestigious military facilities in May and June 2023, respectively, have race relations improved? Did the KKK stop their racism? Did any racists, for that matter, decide to abandon their views? I think not. If anything, my guess is that it inflamed them further. This type of progress isn't progress. If solving racism was as easy as just changing names or erasing some aspects of art or history, we could have eliminated racism hundreds of years ago.
Removing symbols or renaming places does not address the underlying issues of racial inequality. Instead, examining history, even its darkest chapters seen in front of our faces, whether in the form of a monument, book, or military installation, can bring about genuine change. Out of sight, out of mind will not work.
The Uncomfortable Truths: A Path to Enlightenment
No matter how offensive or uncomfortable, the underlying messages embedded in history hold the key to progress. When society erases the history of a culture and nation in a futile attempt to "fix" something from the past, it denies itself the opportunity to learn from its mistakes and real change. The discomfort associated with confronting the past is a powerful reminder of the consequences of actions driven by prejudice, ignorance, or hatred. By embracing history, society can move forward armed with knowledge and understanding. By sanitizing history, we forget the errors in our ways.
In a world where immediate gratification often takes precedence, the call to embrace discomfort for growth and progress is a mindset to be embraced. Rather than shying away from brutal truths, this perspective encourages us to face history's complexities head-on.
The American experience is tinged with incredible successes and brutal evils. We should remember all of it. We are who we are; if we recognize this, we can become an ever-evolving better version of ourselves. Ultimately, we can shape a more informed and enlightened future through our willingness to confront the past, even its most unpleasant aspects.
Please listen to the podcast if you want to hear me discuss this topic in even more detail.
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