Now More Than Ever
The passing of time dilutes history just as adding water to the soup thins the broth. It also mutes the taste by making it bland. And it also makes a homemade soup a whole lot less nutritious.
“For Rutherford B. Hayes, election evening of November 7, 1876, was shaping up to be any presidential candidate’s nightmare. Even though the first returns were just coming in by telegraph, newspapers were announcing that his opponent, the Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, had won. Hayes, a Republican, would indeed lose the popular vote by more than a quarter-million, but he had no way of knowing that as he prepared his concession speech.” This article from Smithsonian Magazine provides intriguing insight into the history of American electoral chaos that has reached a new high in low with the presidential election of 2020.
For the the connoisseur the quest for good soup or stew is the catalyst for epic adventures. Likewise with the curious minded person that has an interest in history.
A good biography on Abraham Lincoln provides insight into the man and his times. Visit his home in Springfield, Illinois, just a few blocks off Route 66 and you add skin to dry bones. Visit his library and museum located nearby with its state of the art multimedia exhibits and the man springs to life.
Now more than ever it is important to develop a hunger for history. History provides the needed perspective that alleviates unneeded worry, and that sharpens the focus on what is worth worrying about.
History will inspire you to visit Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Oklahoma. As the National Park Service website explains, “Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer sought to end Indian raids by weakening their arsenal and destroying their morale at the Battle of Washita. Today, the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site protects and interprets the setting along the Washita River where Lt. Colonel George A. Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack against the Southern Cheyenne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle on November 27, 1868. The attack played a significant role in the Indian Wars, a tragic clash of cultures that is part of the American story.”
History will broaden your horizons, and challenge you to think. Pay a visit to the lost city of Cahokia near Collinsville, Illinois along Route 66 and the story of America expands dramatically. Spend a few minutes atop the mounds and just listen. You can almost feel the clock being turned back to a time when this was where science was advanced.
Now more than ever is the time to discover a passion for history, and the lessons that it teaches. Now more than ever is the time to let history inspire epic odysseys worth Jason and the Argonaughts.