Finishing Karen's View on History (maybe)

Karen’s View on History - from 1970 to Present

Some thoughts and quotes:
“If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.” Calvin Coolidge - 30th President of the United States.

“There are battles that we need to be in, and battles that we need to avoid.”

“90% of what you learn in college is irrelevant and only 10% is relevant.  The trouble is, we don’t know what the 10% really is”.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." Mark Twain.

“Too soon old, too late smart”.

And, the last one (at least for now) “Hindsight is 20/20”.

We all make mistakes.  As a human, I have made (and still make) plenty of mistakes.  If I really have learned from my mistakes, I would be the smartest person in the world!!!  Humans ‘enjoy’ the comfort that they will eventually grow old and die. Countries really don’t grow old.  The United States is now 244 years old. As a country, we have made many mistakes - and as a country, we have done some very admirable things.  We are vulnerable (both as single humans and as a country). We have had some great moments and some great flops. We have had some great leaders and some not-so-great leaders.

As I have looked at the past week at history through my eyes, I realize that even though it all, I am still an idealist - I still think Americans can (and will) do the right thing.  But, I have been disillusioned as well. Vietnam is one that is major in my brain. Stopping the spread of an ideology that enslaves people (while claiming protection for all) was a noble goal.  Stopping Fascism was also a noble goal - and (largely) was achieved. Freedom for all mankind - under God is good. If the Judeo-Christian view that man is made in the image of God is true - then we need to learn to love and accept and forgive.   

Vietnam - Nixon - Agnew - Clinton - Iraq War - Cold War - (let alone Panama, the whole Middle-East, Bosnia, Cuba, Bay of Pigs, Grenada) and so much more were troubles that came down the road - and at times we (the country of the United States) tried to stop problems that weren’t important enough to stop - let them run into the ditch as Coolidge suggested.  The War on Poverty, the War on Drugs, the Civil Rights of people were good programs. Of course (my personal bias) is that once we institutionalize a problem, the bureaucracy somehow takes some of the good out of the effort. Government grows bigger as we implement great programs to help people - but that needs administration and oversight to dole out the dollars and support.

We want and need heroes, statesmen made from marble - but we get politicians made of straw and clay with imperfections.  (Tongue-in-cheek - what America needs is me - since I don’t have any imperfections!!!!)

Some suggest that we are “going to hell in a handbasket”.  While I have suggested that Presidential candidates seem to have an overabundance of ego, they are willing to go into that arena.  “Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread”). I couldn’t be President. I’m not sure I could be a College Dean again (LMG did a better job anyway!!!).  

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”  (For Presidents, Senators, Congressman, Governors, Mayors, ALL those in authority!!) 

Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him. (Mark 11:17); 

Romans 13:1 "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still, more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.” John Acton, British Baron

The 1 Timothy 2:1-2 verse speaks to me - have I prayed for those authorities - today or any day?  (Maybe not!!)

I will return to history again - but I will move to a different topic tomorrow!!!

Hugs!!

Karen

(For history, in the 1950s there was a book The Ugly American about some of our (USA) blunders abroad.  I even think back to the Opium Wars and how our good friends from Great Britain tried to enslave the Chinese people on opium to balance trade.  (hmmm - make that might be a good idea now? NO NO NO). We have enslaved our own people - by race and color. We harass those whose brains say that they have a different sexual or gender orientation.  Too much history, too many mistakes!! Oh well, life goes on!!)