The Need to Remember

 During these troubling times I have been reminded of a quote by George Santayana. "THOSE WHO DO NOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT."  As I saw pictures and heard stories of people tearing down statues, or wanting building names changed because they did not like the history of the person who was being acknowledged, that quote came to mind so many times.  If one bad act can negate any good someone has done then we will all be woefully dismissed.  I have known people who left the church because they didn't like a story they heard about a leader and completely ignored the fruits of their divine beginnings.  Did Christopher Columbus have flaws?  George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln?  The list goes on and on and the answer is of course they did.  If we judge others only by the perceived offenses that others do then we are denying the times that people lived in, the accepted norms of their times, and the good that was done because of the things they did that changed history for the better. I don't think we should ever forget that human beings were enslaved and treated egregiously, that war is hell and that there are bad people who do horrific things.  But remember the good people.  When one person does something they shouldn't have done there is no reason in the world to justify using a broad brush to paint all those around them bad.  We each have to remember that ultimately there will be a Judge and He will give pure justice.  And that He sent His son to ensure that all of us could make right those things that we did wrong.  My rant is over!  I'd like to close my thoughts with a quote by Martin Luther King (who had many flaws but in a brief moment he changed history!) He said, "WE ARE NOT MAKERS OF HISTORY.  WE ARE MADE BY HISTORY."

I am including some of the wonderful reminders of the greatness of our country because of people who although flawed pressed forward with faith and a desire for a better life.