Looking back at the past

If you’ve never listened to it, I’m one of the panelists on the Battle Creek Enquirer’s Comic Book Riff Raff podcast. Basically, the three of us exchange comic books, graphic novels and manga and discuss what we thought about them.

We’d last exchanged books a few weeks back, but I just had time to start on one of the picks for our next session, Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton. It’s a collection of short little hand-drawn comics that range from modern life to life in medieval times, with a lot of comics poking fun at various historical people or events. In her forward, Beaton explains that she’s a literature and history buff, especially the history of her homeland, Canada, and these weird little comics featuring people I’ve barely heard of make history, even unfamiliar history, easily accessible.

As I spent last evening laughing out loud to myself as I read (being a silent laugher, this book accomplished quite a feat) I couldn’t help but think about how easily Beaton can mix history with modern life, such as juxtaposing Susan B. Anthony’s fight for women’s suffrage with the interests of modern women highlighted on Sex and the City. Not to be pessimistic, but try standing on a busy street and asking people what Susan B. Anthony accomplished. You’ll get three answers: A). “She fought for women’s suffrage,” B). “I have no idea” and C). “I have no idea but I have a coin with her on it.”

History doesn’t seem to be a popular subject in America. We’re told from an early age to look ahead, to tomorrow, to the future. More often that becomes “the weekend” or “spring break.” At the same time, we’re told to revere those who came before us and made this country great – the people we see on our money every day and those who appear in monuments, either in form or in name, which is largely the same lot of people.

America is one of the youngest countries on Earth, yet people approach American history as if they’re about to read through all 4,000 years of China. Yes, people wore funny clothing back then and some made strange decisions, but that’s no excuse to not now the basic story of how America came to be or whether women or black people were allowed to vote first.

You don’t have to learn the history of every country in the entire world, but if you see something that catches your eye, it’s worthwhile to look it up. Learn about where you live, the places you go past every day – the old buildings and monuments you go past.

It’s no excuse to say that history is boring – I’m sure historians in the year 3000 will say the same thing about us. What you did yesterday is history. Was yesterday boring? Or the day before? Besides, if you haven’t read it, how do you know it’s boring? The events already happened but they’re the events that shaped our life in the present. Imagine a world where women were never allowed to vote, where America didn’t enter into World War II or where Christopher Columbus’ ships never made it to the New World. If you can change one little aspect of history and realize the implications of it to today’s world, then I have a hard time seeing how it could be “boring.”

History is all around us, even in humble little Battle Creek. Our history’s a heck of a lot more exciting than our neighbors. And if you’re not convinced, what if I told you a religious group in once added eating cereal to their religious doctrines? That actually happened, in Battle Creek, no less. Now go look it up.