The Nine Lives of Jari
I've been reading over some old live journal entries. It's hard to believe I've only been here for four years, it feels like my whole life. I wish it had been longer because then I would have lost less when my old journal was destroyed. But even four years ago, I was a different Jari. Certainly I was much younger in the spiritual sense, much more immature. But age is not a function of time, and maturity CERTAINLY is not. I was much more mature eight years ago than I was four years ago. Eight years ago was a whole different life, though, and I cannot go back. I don't really want to, though fours years ago I did more than anything. That life died quite literally in the flaming torches of angry villagers, and I knew in my heart of hearts I could never have it back. I must always regret the change when it is upon me. When my first life ended and I awoke in this very town, I longed for my old haunts, my old life more than anything, even though it was barely a life at all. But soon I grew. I learned from my mistakes and built another life here. But that life ended in violently, and again I was at the beginning. Now I am in my fourth life, and I can easily see that no matter how I hated and feared each new life was, no matter how I longed for what I had and understood and was comfortable with before, it was in those times of uncertainty and paralyzing fear that I learned and grew the most. The times that hurt the most taught me the most.
This month is Black History Month. That name, the whole concept, is Black History Month. There is an Asian-American History Month. There is a Hispanic History Month. There is a Native American History Month. There is not a White History Month. The quick retort, as NPR noted today, is that every month is White History Month. I respectfully disagree. In each of the aforementioned months, special honor is given to the great teachers and leaders in thought that worked to change their world for the better. From MLK to Chief Joseph to Ghandi. But although European, "white" culture does indeed dominate US History, when do we ever learn/hear about white leaders who tried to change the world for the better? I'm not saying White History month should be a White Rights movement or something. Black History month is hardly a rush for "Black Power". I'm suggesting it purely as a fair and equal way to show that EVERY race and people (not just minorities) has made positive contributions (not just lots of negative contributions) to society, and jointly shaped the future of the world.
On a related tangent, I've never really felt that history was important. It happened long ago, we've learned from our mistakes, and it is in the past. No amount of exams or classroom hours can change any of it, so why bother? I still feel that way, but today I finally thought of something that should have been obvious. Just as in my own life (lives), the past has shaped us and the lessons learned have helped us grow into the country/world we are today. That's all well and good, but again, nothing we do now can change what has shaped us into who we are now. What we can do is look at the atrocities of the past, the mistakes large and small, and be silently reminded of what humanity is capable of, and what we ourselves must be on guard against in our own hearts. This is why we should look back and remember the past. This is why there is history. That and so all the people that might have been inquisitors in a different era can be history teachers in this one. :-3
This month is Black History Month. That name, the whole concept, is Black History Month. There is an Asian-American History Month. There is a Hispanic History Month. There is a Native American History Month. There is not a White History Month. The quick retort, as NPR noted today, is that every month is White History Month. I respectfully disagree. In each of the aforementioned months, special honor is given to the great teachers and leaders in thought that worked to change their world for the better. From MLK to Chief Joseph to Ghandi. But although European, "white" culture does indeed dominate US History, when do we ever learn/hear about white leaders who tried to change the world for the better? I'm not saying White History month should be a White Rights movement or something. Black History month is hardly a rush for "Black Power". I'm suggesting it purely as a fair and equal way to show that EVERY race and people (not just minorities) has made positive contributions (not just lots of negative contributions) to society, and jointly shaped the future of the world.
On a related tangent, I've never really felt that history was important. It happened long ago, we've learned from our mistakes, and it is in the past. No amount of exams or classroom hours can change any of it, so why bother? I still feel that way, but today I finally thought of something that should have been obvious. Just as in my own life (lives), the past has shaped us and the lessons learned have helped us grow into the country/world we are today. That's all well and good, but again, nothing we do now can change what has shaped us into who we are now. What we can do is look at the atrocities of the past, the mistakes large and small, and be silently reminded of what humanity is capable of, and what we ourselves must be on guard against in our own hearts. This is why we should look back and remember the past. This is why there is history. That and so all the people that might have been inquisitors in a different era can be history teachers in this one. :-3