How The Past Explains The Present and Guides the Future

 In school, most of my classmates hated history. And, in fact today, most Americans are woefully unable to recite many historical facts both American or world. This is quite apparent in the current administration. I mentioned earlier how an Asian friend preparing for his citizenship exam had to know the answers to questions native born citizens couldn't answer.

Titanic: Not her greatest momentt

I have watched quite a few BBC shows over the past few years and have recently begun to see how they fit together historically. Starting with DOWNTON ABBEY, we begin with the shock of the sinking of the Titanic. An heir to the abby is lost in her sinking and chaos descends on the Crawley family. The Titanic represents the hubris of Britain at the time and in the Europe that would soon go to war. Many might say the loss of this ship set the stage for the war to come because her loss changed world events. Great men died who might have made different decisions. Why, because eons of rumors say America already saw the possibility of war and sent a diplomat to all European heads warning them if a war should occur the United States would not get involved. This "supposed" diplomate and documents were lost on the ship. Europe was warned repeatedly up to August 1914 and even after.

"Downton Abbey" actually Highclere Castle

Another historical fact not well known was this was a family war. Every head of Europe was related to
each other. Russia's Alexandra and Kaiser Wilhelm II were English Queen Victoria's grandchildren and the British royalty was German. They were descended from George I whose House of Hanover took the throne in 1714-1901; Saxe-Coburg & Gotha 1901-1917 and renamed Windsor 1917 to present.

ABBEY shows how many of the great houses were failing as costs rose, land rents weren't enough to maintain a 1700-1800 style of living with huge staffs and grand and expensive parties.

Queen Elizabeth II

THE CROWN is about Queen Elizabeth's reign and was popular. However, though well acted you couldn't escape noticing how out of touch with the people their ritual living standard was. Even in the 21st century they were living like lords and ladies of the 1700's. The cost to the British people each year must be million's of pounds better spent elsewhere. Maids to wake you, dress you, prepare an assortment of food barely touched, clothes, travel,  all things that cost money. I was shocked to see the queen had her own horses, raced them and pocketed winnings while housed in the royal stables.

The contrast here is astounding. The great houses were failing while royalty lived, well, like kings on the backs of their people more medieval than modern.

World War I and II ruined England as much of her wealth came from the quarter of the world she ran. The winds of freedom started with India in 1947 and became a hurricane by the 60's-70's as one by one each territory regained its' freedom. While they often remained in the Commonwealth they were under no obligation to support England and didn't.

The Ardverikie Estate as Glenbogle

For me, the most recent series I've watched, MONARCH OF THE GLEN, is set in 21st century Scotland on a 40,000 acre estate. Archie McDonald discovers his aging father has made him Laird of Glenbogle the 400 + year old estate that is one step away from foreclosure. Billed as a comedy the contrasts of a grand house falling apart and the Queens Balmoral, also a castle in Scotland, is sobering. The king or queen live in the 18th century while Glenbogal struggles in the 21st.

In all cases ownership of land is paramount. Even the hint of using, trespassing, without permission, or, god forbid, SELL any of it remain fighting words, a concept brought by many English, Irish, German and Scottish immigrants to America. It explains the colonists complete inability to understand Native American peoples failure to own land. The concept of property was lost on them. This was why so many captured white women never wanted to return to "civilization." They had never known such freedom because a wife to a European was his property, strictly supervised.

It's fascinating what you can learn from the simplest broadcast. When strung together they create a pattern, a fleshing out of the past that helps us understand the present that hopefully guides us not to make the mistakes of the past as we enter the future. In conclusion what these shows show is that change is inevitable and those that can't change will fail. Nothing is forever as much as we might want it to be. The Titanic shows that nothing is perfect and she failed because her captain failed to heed warnings. As the old saying says, pride goeth before the fall. 

However, Santana said it best: "Those who forget history are condemned to relive it."

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