As a society, we base a lot of what we think and do on the past. We look to it for ideas, actions, even possibilities for the future. We base our entire existence on events and ideas that came from the past. In the general matter of existence, this is a good thing. Had Newton not been hit with an apple, we might not understand gravity to the level we do. If Edison had not failed hundreds of times, he might not have invented the electric light bulb. For the sake of scientific advancement, the past offers a lot of great accomplishments. For the sake of science, the past is an amazing history book full of ideas and amazement. It is astonishing what we as the human race have accomplished. These inventions served the future in amazing ways that personally I will never be able to comprehend. Each of these inventions has its own merits, but cannot be judged on any scale in existence. Each eliminated a problem or created an easier way of life for the future. Consider the implications though; each inventor saw their invention for what it could do and passed it on. Each noticed the possibilities and advanced them. Unfortunately, they failed to consider the negative implications on mankind. This is not a bad thing; it is natural to see how advancement can negate its problems. The gasoline engine has advanced mankind to a level once thought impossible, but its pollutions have possibly ruined our atmosphere. Of course this is bad, but not something for which we would give up the engine. In the realm of thought, that is where the problem exists. Ideas like Emerson’s: be self reliant. Ideas like Thoreau’s: live simply. These are great ideas, but time has made them impossible. We sit on the cusp of mankind, yet we only look backwards. The future is ours, so why not look to it? What do you see in our future? Do you see a happy existence, a utopian society? I personally see horror, bloodshed, and starvation. This is already going on in many countries. This is already happening, and for some reason we can’t see it. We fail to look past our own little world; we fail to see the truth because of this blindfold of the past.
We idealize the past, place it up on its pedestal not even acknowledging what it said. Emerson stated, “The end of the human race will be that we eventually die of civilization.” We see Emerson as a modern prophet, someone with great ideas that should be listened to. Listen then; he was not kidding when he made this quote. He wasn’t stating that if we don’t advance we die; he was stating that we die, very simple. We immortalize him in books and museums, yet ignore his very words. To paraphrase Thoreau, do not obey laws that you personally find unjust, and do not listen to a government that capitalizes on the souls of mankind. Yet here we are, living under the largest form of government that ever existed, a government that condemns those who disagree and liberates them as an act of goodwill. Where is the logic, the simplicity that Thoreau was talking about?
I like Emerson, I agree with Thoreau, and I see merit in what they said. I do not base my existence on it though. I know these quotes can leave a vague image. I realize they don’t represent the past as a whole. As a whole, the past has taught us a lot, but it has not taught us how to proceed. To learn to proceed, we must create our own ideas. Emerson thought that books were a great source, but not something we should rely on as fact. He said we should take each book as an idea and make our own facts and ideals from it. From the modern perspective, this means to take Emerson himself with a grain of salt, as with anything. Yet we take anything for what it says; we follow like lemmings off a cliff without even noticing.
Democracy – a great thing, right? I’m not arguing, but the idea of democracy and what we have today are on different levels. Today we a have a corrupted version of a perfect government, for the people and by the people. Well, at least a majority of people. Thoreau also said that a majority doesn’t make it right; the problem with the majority is that it silences the minority. Just because the majority agrees, doesn’t make it right. We sit here and bitch about how we disagree, yet we still pay our taxes and live day to day. I ask you to consider the future, better yet, to act for the future. We bog down our government with issues like health care and gay marriage, but what will that do for the future? These issues are fought for by people who want them for themselves, not for their kids and the generations that follow.
Instead of looking to the past for these great ideas, let us look to our future. Decide for yourself, are we doing the right thing? Are we heading in a direction that can lead to salvation? A better question, what is salvation? To religion, salvation of mankind is to believe and be saved. To government, salvation is to continue existing. What is salvation for the human species? What is the path to get us there, and if we are not currently on that path, why do we continue down it? Don’t be the existing man; be a Man Existing.
I quote and paraphrase a lot in this article, and there is a reason for that. We constantly look to the past for ideas and paths to take. Yet, notice how many times it is possible to quote the past prophets, yet still disagree with what they have given us. I say, and never quote me, “Fix the world for tomorrow, not today. Act on what you think is right and just, not popular.” I will gladly have that engraved on humanity’s tombstone to prove my point.