A Conversation with a Friend

The other evening I visited with an old friend. It had been a while since we last sat down together.

I missed our conversations. They always challenged me to think deeper and pay more attention to things.

We spoke on things past. He shared with me a recent observation he had made.

He had noted that many of the newer generation are unaware of the history that surrounds them. What things conspired in the very place that they stand.

For example, just down the beach from the balcony that we were sitting on there is an old bunker from the war many years ago.  He observed how so many of the beachgoers did not take notice of what they were leaning against, hanging their clothes and towels on. Likely, the majority of them did not stop to think about what they were seeing.  Or rather, what they would see if they were standing in the exact same place over 60 years ago. 


Soldiers burdened down with artillery. The deafening sounds of ammunition loosed from their confinement. Humans calling out in pain, praying that some deity would look upon them with favor and spare them from the horrific circumstances they have found themselves in. The violence and brutality that overcame this island and the rest of the world.

No, it is much more likely that the many gathered at that beach were mainly focused on enjoying their time with their family and friends, the tropical paradise and all around pleasant circumstances
they have found themselves in.


It is not to say that we must constantly dwell on the morbidity of the past, the vast array of mistakes and horrors that our species has taken part in. Or that we should not be allowed to enjoy anything in the present.


It is more that many in the world today simply never think of the many things that can be learned from the past. Which, as he and I concluded, is likely a result of the educational system turning history into a chore, a mind-numbing obligation to remember facts and numbers that we just as quickly forget after we inscribe them on compositional paper. It is something that we are trained to avert. Once we're done with it, we're done with it.


But were we to take no notice of the past then we would have no knowledge of our future and no wisdom for our present. It is unfortunate that few do take notice. But it is what it is.


It is these conversations that I missed. I often wish I had taken more advantage of the opportunities I had before as now there are not as many.


And so we were called in for dinner and our conversation concluded. But as he was about to slide the door shut he made one other observation.




"Oh look, there's a bit of a sunset there."




















From the letters,




joel