History Lessons:
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. . . . If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] . . . will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), 3rd U.S. president,
in the Debate Over the Recharter of the Bank Bill, 1809.
(Thanks to alert WORDster Harry Crosby)
in the Debate Over the Recharter of the Bank Bill, 1809.
(Thanks to alert WORDster Harry Crosby)
I deleted your first one, Sahila. Hope that's what you wanted.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, don't we feel sad and stupid at having so often to relive the same sorry mistakes of the past? Is it just me, aging and aged as I am, or are memories shorter than they used to be? We journalists once mocked historians as journalists who missed deadline, but maybe they have a place after all--if only people would listen to the lessons they've learned and we've forgotten.
Ted
This seems quite profound to me, as it seems so very relevant to current events. Given that, all throughout my elementary, middle, and high school educations Thomas Jefferson was painted as an eccentric "whacko" (for lack of a better term), mostly because of his views on events, personal habits, ethics and habits, it seems odd to me that more and more people are now starting to see the wisdom in his words. From what I can gather on his views and personal habits, were he alive today, it seems he would be a big proponent of the Green Party, perhaps even be running in its name. That is not, of course, an endorsement for or against any particular party, but just my own personal opinion and how things strike me. Your mileage may vary, of course.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about historians being journalists who had failed to meet a deadline made me laugh, Ted.... according to my Meyers Briggs personality profile, I'm equally and eminently suited for either profession!
ReplyDeleteBut the point about memories being shorter...
I'm not so sure they are shorter. I think people choose not to remember because remembering can bring with it a moral obligation to choose to change what didnt work in the past, and change is hard, especially if you have to give up something....
I think its a kind of denial, which leads to a form of mass insanity....
What is it that they say - insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
Namaste
Sahila