We Rise Above

It is not too often that I am moved to respond to current events.  I do have, however, a real love of history and its significance in shaping the future.  I felt inclined to express my opinion on the destruction of historical monuments/statues that has recently become a topic of protest.

Historical Significance

History by definition is the study of the past,

Without history, how could our memories last?

Good or bad, evil or not,

Our history sometimes is all we’ve got,

To learn from past mistakes and then to grow,

To let our younger generations know,

That what we did or did not do,

Can be repeated if we don’t start anew,

Don’t take away the statues that depict our pain,

We don’t celebrate the faults, but recognize the gain,

The past can’t be changed, but the future can be transformed,

It is what it is, it has shaped this country, so be forewarned,

There is no “safe zone” to which we should retreat,

We must be proud to recognize our history, in victory and defeat,

All is not perfect and intolerance is intolerable,

The world is one and not one is deplorable,

Acceptance and remembrance make for a bright future,

We can stitch up old wounds with a finely placed suture,

Regrets, yes true, but again we rise above,

When we treat our flag with respect and our country with love.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/30/2017