Some Thoughts on History

The past few years, I’ve been watching a lot of history shows and reading history books. It’s repetitive, in a way. Times and technology change, but, in many aspects, human beings don’t. There are always those who want to control the masses (to put it simply) and they’ll say and promise anything to get people to follow.

The latest shows I’ve watched parts of are from the series “What Really Happened: America’s Wild West…” It’s an eye-opener, and yet, it’s also a sign of what I’ve been coming to believe and understand for some time.

All our lives we’ve had our history drilled into us – as “they” wanted the U.S. history portrayed – and now, we are learning and hearing more from other sides and stories. How does that old saying go? Something about the conquerors getting to write the history which always portrays them as being in the right.

There is more than one side.

And, all our lives, we’ve been taught that the U.S. is the best country in the world, that our government is the best, and our leaders want the best for American citizens… And I so want to continue believing that, but I don’t anymore.

To see other sides, to start having other truths come out, I have come to the conclusion we’ve been manipulated our entire lives. I’m beginning to think our leaders aren’t much better than leaders in other countries. Men are men. Humans are human with all their frailties.

Oh, I believe many leaders often start out trying to do good for the people they represent, but when the power of control gets hold of them, it all changes. It becomes not about the people in general but about protecting those in power and getting richer from it.

Manifest Destiny – leaders believing they have the God-given right to do whatever they want because they believe they are in the right. They believe their ways are what’s best… and they don’t care who they destroy to get their wants fulfilled.

How many cults and cultures have there been? Someone always thinks they’ve been given some divine right and it always proves to be false. Oh, some benefit, but in the end, most do not.

Leaders create rules for the people they themselves don’t have to follow.

If you’re not pushing your agenda and beliefs on others, they’re pushing theirs onto you.

I don’t know what the real answers are. Yes, there are stories and sides that need to be told. It’s hard to sort it all out.