Should the Past Be Judged Essay - 2294 Words

Should the Past be Judged? We can learn a lot from consulting the past. We learn more about our world, more about our history, and even more about ourselves. Spanish aphorist George Santayana once said: â€Å"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it† (qtd. in Moncur 1). In general terms, this famous aphorism means that it is important for us to study and learn from history in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes. However, the standards and values that we use today to judge the present are much different than they were in the past. What may have seemed like the right thing to do one hundred years ago might not be viewed the same way today. In her essay â€Å"At the Buffalo Bill Museum, June 1988,† Jane Tompkins†¦show more content†¦Cody’s Wild West shows weren’t just used to preserve the buffalo species; they were used to depict his actions as an Indian fighter. â€Å"Buffalo Bill was a plainsman, but the place he might have held on the pic ture plane of the West was severely compromised and ultimately lost to the theatrical pretentions of the Wild West Show† (Momaday 638). For Cody, these shows were just a transformation into an imitation of himself. â€Å"The great fascination and peril of Cody’s life was the riddle of who he really was. The thing that opposed him, and perhaps betrayed him, was above all else the mirage of his own identity† (Momaday 631). In this essence, it is important for us to judge the past. Despite his treatment of the Indians, Cody is still an authentic American hero. Buffalo Bill isn’t the only figure in American history to be viewed in this controversial manner. Consider the actions of Christopher Columbus after discovering America. In 1492, Columbus set out on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in an effort to prove that the world was round. After spending two months at sea, Columbus finally reached what he thought was India but was actually Central America. Columbus is credited for being the first to generate European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. His voyages eventually led to the colonization of the Americas and the development of a modern world. After Columbus, more and more explorers set out to the Americas,Show MoreRelatedracism speech Essay1431 Words   |  6 Pageswhat this disease is. You probably think that it can be treated with limited breakouts every few years. The virus Im talking about is racism. Imagine living every day in fear knowing that where ever you go, everything you do is b eing observed and judged. Imagine walking into a store or a boutique and having someone watch every move of yours thinking that you’re going to steal something, or expose a bomb from under your clothes. Imagine being mocked and hated at school because youre different.Read MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Imitation Game By Alan Turing1334 Words   |  6 Pagesvery personal consequence of society’s decision. Throughout the film the question of the appropriateness of differing sexual orientations, gender roles, and social norms are questioned by allowing the audience to see how these aspects have been judged in the past and the consequences of society’s decisions on a personal level. The first societal decision the rhetor questions is that of the appropriateness of gender roles. 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