Deleting History Only To Repeat It

Must have used the 'N' word.

What a novel and modern idea to tear down statues and delete people from history.

Well, maybe not so novel. And maybe not so ironic is the fact that today's Vandals seem to have no idea of the history they wish to alter. Given the reputation of western 'higher education' for the past 30 years I suppose that ignorance is to be expected. 

President Woodrow Wilson has become the latest SJW non-person. What's funny (as in giggle-worthy) is that President Wilson was one of the biggest liberal/democrat/progressives of the 20th Century. I always thought the guy was a douchebag but I never wanted him erased!

But whatever.

In ancient history, stretching back to the dim morning twilight of the 2000's, the Taliban (remember them?) blew up some Buddha statues because Buddha was such a flaming infidel and the whole world lost its collective shit. I remember the breathless coverage, every newsreader sounding like proponents of genocide against the Taliban.

But that was so long ago, way back before #MeToo and MAGA hats.

If you want to really go back in history, the ancient Egyptians defaced statues of the previous rulers as a way of altering history. 'Pharaoh who? Never heard of the bum.' And probably a lot of average Egyptians got their knickers in a twist and debated whether the  obsolete statues should be destroyed or go into a museum. 

But, whoa - that was back before Twitter itself!

I'm an old man and I want the old ways back. I want 'my' country back. I'm not just uncomfortable, I am quite frankly terrified. But these cultural revolutions don't happen often. So I'm strapped in on this roller coaster and hangin' on for dear life. I'll just scream like a 12-year-old girl and try to enjoy the ride! lol

The picture at the top has long been a favorite of mine. Don't like someone? Delete him. 

I've read an embarrassing number of books about Stalin, Mao, Hitler and the origins of the Cold War and a few things stand out. First, it didn't end well for a lot of people. Historians still debate the number of millions of people were killed by this unholy trinity. 

Secondly, all three wanted to drastically alter their respective societies to make those societies better. They believed nothing short of revolution would root out the entrenched evils that were leading their countries to ultimate cultural rot. Considered in isolation, not such an ignoble aspiration.

But what stands out more than anything in the context of today's trendy deletion of people who may have retroactively offended us is how traditional this really all is. Sometimes I feel like we're watching someone drill a hole in a disk and yell in glee 'Look! I've invented the wheel!'

Maybe it'll be moar rounderer this time. Or maybe not.

King Solomon (or whoever wrote Ecclesiastes) was right when he said there was nothing new under the sun. 

I just haven't made up my mind whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.