19 May 2008

Monday Musings...
Have you been counting the days?
Have you been listening to the strains of a certain John Williams soundtrack?
Does your memory wander back to the early 1980s when things seemed a lot different, and gas prices were a LOT LOWER?
If you're like millions of other people, you've been secretly uncoiling your whip, dusting off that revolver, and brushing up your fedora in anticipation for the new INDIANA JONES movie, set to premiere this Friday.
Titled "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", this is the 4th installment in the series (with the last movie being made back in 1989). Suffice it to say, time has been fairly kind to Dr. Jones (can we say likewise?) as he embarks on an adventure that could save the world (somehow, that never seems to get old).
Last evening two related shows were aired. The Sci-Fi Channel had a 2 hour presentation that dealt with the crystal skulls, and although it did contain some history, was laced profusely with conjecture. One thing I did find interesting, is that the skulls (there are supposedly 13 in all) have something to do with the Mayan calendar and the ominous date of 21 December 2012, or 12/21/12. Planetary alignment and magnetic pole reversal was mentioned. It wasn't really all mumbo-jumbo, but it had enough possible credibility to make it somewhat intriguing. The folklore behind much of it did have a basis in facts.
The other 2 hour show on The History Channel was much more interesting to me. It dealt with the science of archaeology, with the comparisons AND differences between real life and the Indiana Jones movies. It told how today's archaeologists were inspired by the films to pursue a career in this fascinating field of historical study. They spoke about relics, robbers, politics, and the CHALLENGE to preserve history, learn from what it can tell us, as well as being challenged THEMSELVES (a lesson for us all there, perhaps?)
OK...I get it...in my NEXT life, I WILL become an archaeologist (note to self).
I have to admit to being a history buff as well as a fan of the Indiana Jones series (whatta franchise). I have all the novelizations, a making of book, and the screenplay/storyboard book. I even have my own brown fedora gathering it's own dust (from Mesopotamia perhaps?) upstairs over the dresser. And I do enjoy reading about history. The book about finding King Tut's tomb (written BY Howard Carter) is riveting.
And having married a teacher of LATIN (yeah, the ROMAN one, and not the Spanish one), we share this desire to know more about our early times as a civilization, albeit it Greek, Roman, Babylonian, or whatever.
I remember my former pastor in Philly once dug up some CIVIL WAR era artifacts when he was working the grounds of the church (maybe that's why I've taken to gardening now), and he displayed them one Sunday morning. Among them was a bayonet, still in pretty good condition (for being in the ground ALL those years). We did live within a mile of the old Frankford Arsenal (which supplied our troops during that time), so this was nothing less than amazing.
I can't really say I've found anything of note, other than some fossilized fern in some old chunk of coal when I was a kid (and that was pretty cool).
We did (as a class) often visit the Natural History Museum in Philly (that stuffed great white shark over the archway leading downstairs always DID scare the hell out of me), as well as the Franklin Institute, and I did get to visit the Smithsonian Institution and THE National History Museum there (both a MUST see if you are EVER even remotely NEAR Washington, D.C.), and I can say that the "wow" factor is in full swing at both places when it comes to the past. You will NOT be disappointed one bit.
It's this wonder of seeing how people did things and conducted their lives in times past that amazes me. They accomplished so much with so little (compared to the technological juggernaut we are privy to today). I mean when you think about CAST PIPES to bring water (via aqueduct) to your city, it's like the second coming of Christ (as many thought back then), or perhaps when iron was first used, or even when fashioning clothing for our primate backs using looms and artisans to stitch it all together. We take all of this for granted every day...and we really shouldn't.
We marvel at all the electronic wonders at our feet, while forgetting that we owe mostly ALL of it to a Croatian IMMIGRANT who came here (legally) to work for his future rival, Thomas Edison. Yes, I'm referring to Nikola Tesla, the man who provided us with something called ALTERNATING CURRENT - the basis for most everything running on electricity these days. And our vehicles are not exempt, as he patented the first ELECTRIC STARTER motor. So, every time you turn the key, or flip a switch, you're revisiting history, my friends. History is to be embraced...enjoyed...remembered.
And I suppose that's why I have this "bad taste" in my mouth when I hear about something as "small" as the Lincoln Museum closing here in Fort Wayne.
History is HUGE, no matter what size the building or exhibit. History has been around a lot longer than we have, and will continue long after we've become part OF it. We need to KNOW about it.
We need to LEARN from it
Anything that denies us of our curiosity and desire to KNOW about anything concerning any aspect of our past (as a people, or as a race) is nothing short of horrendous.
To deny our past (in whatever manner or shape it takes) can only cause us to repeat past mistakes.
And we don't learn very much that way, do we?
Then again, the societies inhabiting the face of the Earth are getting used to "do-overs"...aren't we?
Maybe we'll get one come December 21st 2012?
Just something to ponder...

2 comments:

Jana said...

I agree.

I don't understand why so many people turn up their noses at history.

We have to remember what happened in the past to be able to avoid making the same mistakes in the future, to appreciate the accomplishments of our ancestors, and to impress upon ourselves the amazing things that mankind is capable of.

I hope that one day I get to go to the Smithsonian. I've been wanting to go for a LONG time.

Bob G. said...

Jana:
Just remember one thing when you DO go..."Prepare to be AMAZED"...and that goes for their Natural History Museum nearby.
(And bring your WALKING shoes...you're gonna NEED 'em)

B.G.