History Is Within Our Grasp
Every once in a lifetime, you get to see something unbelievable. A bridge restored. An unfathomable gap conquered. A war prevented. I experienced that at the ripe old age of 23.
I had the chance to be near the His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.
I was in the same city, at least. Heck, for a yokel boy from Utah, it’s anything to be in a big city. But to then have a major world religion leader that much closer to you makes everything around the big city go quiet. All seems golden and pure.
All kidding aside, his influence for good is felt far and wide, and he hasn’t even been able to stop at his home country for a break since 1959. He gets some well-deserved credit.
Everything in the District of Columbia felt his influence. Pedestrians stopped to hear his address. The Metro trains actually ran on time. What?! Did Nancy Pelosi just stand and applaud George W. Bush for something he did and said?!
Those three things are just lies. Except the last part; miracles really do happen in this democracy.
Being at the hub for all things America has certainly shown me a few things about the influence of one person.
Why are we obsessed with the news? And what is so important that the whole world has to know it? When two branches of the American government, a WWII Holocaust survivor and an actor with a Golden Globe all say China should go easy on someone – maybe we all should pay attention.
Who are the people who leave a lasting mark on society instead of only being a part of a small, sequestered group? Are political activists lobbying Congress more influential in American culture than college Republicans and Democrats shaping the discussions among their fellow students? Last year’s sports star or rookie of the year is infrequently remembered except on a stat sheet. Hollywood’s acts of stupidity in the name of fame are forgotten from day to day. Even much of the federal legislation debated over long days is lost in the annals of the public mind when something more exciting comes around the corner.
There is a powerful and almost intense feeling when participating in an event which the history chooses to mark down. Many people feel these moments define the culture of our time.
I disagree. They only indicate where we have been and where we are going.
The Dalai Lama and the president met publicly for the first time since China’s hostile take over of Tibet. The event is important only in that it serves as a marker of where our government is trying to go. Bush and Pelosi really did shake hands. Maybe there will be more of that. There certainly needs to be more of it in our personal lives.
Maybe we should look more closely around our own communities. Despite Congress having an approval rating lower than any historical account, I think we should ask, “What is the approval of our own lives, communities and actions?”
If Congress is supposed to be our elected representatives, I venture to say they represent a little bit of everything we are, good and bad. They really do try and reflect the minds of the people while working to make the best decisions. Maybe throughout the country’s complaints about Congress, the people are really only tarnishing their own name.
In history classes, I learned about the culture of former decades from what professional historians deemed worthy to be written down. What do our actions, our governments and our culture say to the history readers of the future America? I’m calling for individuals to write history in their own actions. As we strive to be professionals of our own local culture, maybe we can have an effect on historical events. At least, if we try, we can know what our contribution to history is.
Jacob Fullmer is an intern in Washington, D.C., for another few months striking down in history how he reacts to each moment of the day.