She thought that sometimes, in order to prove or accommodate our beliefs we force ourselves to forget or ignore historical events that may contradict our ideas and opinions. It is a kind of selective memory or simply unconscious amnesia and in some cases a very conscious amnesia.
Let's see some examples:
Martin Luther King Jnr, Washington DC - 1963. CREDIT: Photo: Rex
Doctor Martin Luther King was a key African-American leader of the civil rights movement in the United States during the 50´s and 60´s. He fought to eliminate racial discrimination and achieve equity in social institutions. His exemplary life was dedicated to create a society where people"will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character".
https://www.6sqft.com/historic-photos-document-martin-luther-king-jr-s-connection-to-nyc/
Dr. Martin Luther King´s precious life ended with his senseless and brutal assassination in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. However, his legacy continued with the creation of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, "which ended segregation in all public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and national origin."
Copyright ©2018 (April), The Atlantic by Alan Taylor, original caption: "A huge portrait of slain civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is held up by marchers during his funeral procession on April 9, 1968. More than 50,000 blacks and whites mingled in the tribute to the advocate of racial progress through nonviolence who was killed by a sniper's bullet."
Notwithstanding, some young people from the new generation of digital millennials seem to forget or ignore one of the most important social struggles in the history of the United States and one of the most significant accomplishments of federal legislation derived from Dr. Martin Luther King's struggle and contributions.
Undoubtedly, there is still so much to do in order to improve social justice and equality in the United States, however, social movements such as, for example "Black Lives Matter," do not even mention Doctor Martin Luther King in their proclamation and seem to ignore the struggle of thousands of black and white people, fighting together for a more equitable society. That part of history is not mentioned. Simply, it was decided that it should be forgotten, erased and replaced by more divisions along racial lines.
And, she sadly reflected: "we know that social divisions do not benefit "we the people", but the power establishment."
She thought of another example of social amnesia in the international arena: the pervasive "Russophobia," promoted today by many western leaders that prevents them to objectively assess the historical contribution of Russia during World War II. Russia lost about 27 millions of its people in WWII trying to stop the advance of the Nazi troops in Europe.
What would have happened if the Russians would have been unable to stop the Nazis in Stalingrad in mid November 1942 and lost the battle of Kursk against the Nazis in 1943?
Copyright © 2019 (July5) Moscow Times. On July 5, 1943, the largest tank battle in history began near the southern city of Kursk.
Europe and the United States seem so easily to forget and ignore the crucial contribution of the Russian people to the victory of the allied forces against the Nazis in WWII.
In spite that Russia has diplomatically tried, after World War II, to become part of the European community and to be a close friend of the USA, they have always felt the disdain of the rest of allies towards them. This is another example of the historical amnesia that leads world leaders to forget facts and replace the truth with conveniently skewed narratives. This type of historical amnesia contributes to create divisions and animosity.
Copyright © 2022 (September) National WWII Museum/New Orleans. "Unsung Witnesses of the Battle of Stalingrad." (As many as half a million civilians remained in Stalingrad when the Germans approached in the late summer of 1942. Those who survived the initial onslaught and did not manage to flee, had to eke out a living on a battleground ravaged by incessant bombardment and street fighting. An overwhelming majority of them were women and children).
We know that when past situations do not align with our beliefs or present circumstances, we try to alter them or ignore them. Well, the official social media apparatus knows how to help us to do this so we can more easily align and accept its narrative. It is not a mystery that established social media has borrowed the conceptual framework from the propaganda techniques aimed at selling consumer products and they have simply adapted them to influence ideas, narratives and beliefs.
Copyright ©2010 (March) Arcadio/Gaglecartoons.com. LA Progressive,¨Corporate Media: All the News that Suits the Suits."
Copyright © Andrea Lightfoot, from https://unsplash.com/photos/herd-of-sheep-on-green-grass-field-during-daytime-Pj6fYNRzRT0
Well, it is time for us to wake up and take responsibility for our historical amnesia and begin to remember and research who really deserves our due recognition.
Maybe, it could be easier and safer to be part of a comforting flock of thought but, nothing compares to using our own mind and judgement to find out the truth.
Copyright @ 2009 Nancy Barra, "Anticipation" Oil on canvas,
22" x 28", from: Nancy Barra Contemporary Art/Arte Contemporáneo
We need not to forget that we all have our undeniable and uncontrollable moral compass and we need to use it now if we want to recover our shared human memory and overcome our historical amnesia.
Copyright © Unreal/Unrealism, "A compass with a heart-shaped needle pointing north, surrounded by colorful swirling patterns, symbolizing love as a guiding force."
Dedicated to Jan
