Lessons From History
By Trevor K. McNeil
The Blink Of An Eye
Appeals to history are a common theme, particularly is modern American politics. Which is quite odd, because post-Columbian America actually has so little history. 1776 might sound like a long time ago, but there are nations in the world, where 240 years is a mere hiccup in time. China has a written history that goes back over 3,000 years. The Scots and the Germans were having border conflicts 2,000 years ago with the Roman Empire.
Historical Revisionism
Trump’s pronoucements that America is having the greatest whatever “in the history of the world” is dubious at best, and laughable at worst. France literally has toilets that are older than post-contact America. References to America’s long and glorious past, only one of these arguably being the case, is a sterling example of historical revisionism in the service of nationalist propaganda.
Sweet Land of Liberty
America’s founding was all about liberty. A term that can, and has changed radically with time and context. From a historical perspective liberty referred specifically and exclusively to the nationalist movements of the time. The term “nationalist” itself referring to someone who supported a geographical region becoming an independent nation. Exemplified today by the Scottish National Party and Bloc Québécois. George Washington, went from rebel to president. *He was the last American leader to represent such “nationalism.” It was this context in which Patrick Henry uttered the immortal “give me liberty or give me death.” Later echoed by Mel Gibson paraphrasing 13th century Scottish separatist Sir William Wallace in Braveheart. Showing just how far back such sentiments really go.
Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
Sadly, this bit of historical context is lost on some Americans who believe that Patrick Henry was talking about the right to go to the mall whenever the mood might strike and hang the consequences. Public health experts are saying that we are barely through the first of what could be several waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Predictions say there will invariably be thousands of more deaths if the nation opens too early. Not that it dissuades such rock-ribbed patriots, more than willing to risk the lives of others to get an Orange Julius. Under the impression that smoothies are an essential service.
The Constitution Did Not Include Shopping
Declaring “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” was not a reference to shopping or dining out. I’m just a lowly historian who has studied the subject extensively but it strikes me that these famous, oft quoted, words were first penned certifying the break with British governance. A context made even more ironic by the fact that many of the attendees at Liberty Hall were unrepentant slave owners. Not an odd thing for a wealthy man in the 18th century to be; but should still be kept in mind in the interest of historical perspective.
A Sense of History
Despite this, the powdered wig dandies who put their names to the Constitution had a better grip on historical perspective and how things can change than the Americans now invoking them. The original idea being for the U.S. Constitution to be revisited, and revised as needed, on a regular basis. “Amendment” literally meaning ‘change’, as opposed to intractable and perfect universal truth. Since its creation, our Constitution has been amended 27 times. The passing of the 18th amendment banning the production and sale of intoxicating spirits is a dramatic 20th century example. The 21st Amendment repealed the disastrous 18th Amendment, thirteen years after its adoption.
Song of the Doomed
Appeals to history are nothing new and not a problem in and of themselves. The problem comes when the past is fetishized. Applying history to situations that have nothing to do with the original context, can make things go wonky. As L.P. Hartley astutely pointed out “history is a foreign country: They do things differently there.” When people start acting as though the past is the same as the present and context doesn’t matter, things start to get dangerous. George Santayana is famed for saying that those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it. I shudder to think what will become of those who misunderstand it.
*In this reference, I have intentionally ignored the southern “nationalists” of the American Civil War, such as Jefferson Davis.
