Portfolio: Midterm

The Past


___In this passage by the historian, Gerda Lerner, the main issue is a question, what are the lessons of history. This question comes from the saying “that those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.” Although Lerner agrees that there is truth in that saying, she also believes that “there are no certain ties to be found in the past.” Her viewpoint is that one can learn how past generations reacted to situations, but the circumstances will always be different from the past. The true lesson to learn from is not the result of the past situation, but the result of the past reaction to that situation.

___However, Lerner has a different viewpoint on learning from history, I believe that one can learn from the similarities in present circumstances to historical circumstances. School is not the only place one can learn about history, because history can be as short as a week ago or even a day ago. For me personally, I do not learn important life lessons from past historical events. Lessons I learn from are the past events of my mother’s daily life. Starting from when I was little, remembering events like: my mom getting into a car accident, or her moving to Oregon to live with her boyfriend, and other events or decisions she made with each having its own consequences. I compare those situations to present situations that I could avoid by seeing the similarities of my mother’s past.

___Another point Lerner makes in her passage is “The main thing history can teach us is that human actions have consequences and that certain choices, once made, cannot be undone.” Looking back on the events of my mother’s life of decisions involving car accidents, and moving to a different state shows me how much, certain choices that cannot be undone, effect so many peoples lives. When I was only ten years old, my mother decided to move to Oregon with her boyfriend, while I continued to live with my grandparents. Soon after moving things turned bad in Oregon my mother and her boyfriend broke up, she returned to my grandparent’s house where she started.
She continued to move out and back into her parents’ house multiple times. She has never been stable and always has depended on someone to take care of her. As I got older, I realized I never wanted to be in that position, to be so dependent on so many people. From that situation, I have been more independent, and when I get older and am on my own, I will be stable and independent. The best thing I learned from my mother’s life was how to avoid situations like that one. Just by seeing her mistakes and watching her fall I learned exactly where not to step in life.

___In conclusion, then the main lesson from history is to learn from the reactions of past events. I have learned from personal reactions from my mother’s past that have shaped me into the person I am today. Each decision has a its own consequence, and sometimes learning from others’ mistakes is enough to avoid bad situations with bad consequences. I have avoided many bad situations from watching others’ reactions to similar situations I could be in. Do not under estimate the past and what can be learned from it.