Last night, we learned that the history of the United States of America did not have to turn out the way it did. If the winds were blowing to the East instead of to the South the night of the Battle of Trenton, the British would have likely discovered the Continental Army closing in on them, immediately snuffed them out, and we'd all still be singing "God Save the Queen" instead of the "Star Spangled Banner." This and so many other fortunate circumstances allowed the United States to break from Great Britain completely.
But, that is not all...
After the war was won against the British, the war began in our "teeming Nation of nations." So many different view points, economic priorities, and ideological priorities flowed together to create a mixture of tension that eventually made these new United States weak. If it wasn't for the foresight and stubborn determination of a few young statesmen, our nascent country would have failed before it had a chance to begin.
What are your thoughts? How are you influenced by some thirty-something who lived over 200 years ago in Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts? How can you (a twenty, thirty, or forty-something in urban Utah) affect the life of a college student 200 years from now?
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7 comments:
I never thought that I’ve been influenced by “some thirty-something who lived over 200 years ago in Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts.” I suppose that I have been as I would probably not be where I am today, living life the way I am.
I’m not sure that I know how I could affect the life of a college student in 200 years from now. I’ve always seen my self as someone not that important to affect someone like that. Then again I still have a lot to do in life and some things can still happen to have that affect on someone 200 years down the road. The future has never been a sure road, just an ideal one.
It only takes one person to make a darmatic change in the lives of others. When you think about it, we all effect the people around us no matter how small our actions are they have an earth shaking effect on the people in our lives.
the age of these men are not what is important... they were the right people for the task, inspite of age. Age does not matter it is the mature, and the abilty to handle a situtation that matters most.
I agree it did not have to happen the way it happened... but it did. i am 18 years old and if i feel strongly about my community and the things that are occuring in that community. i can stand up and try to make a change just like the four-fathers before me.
I was going to vent in this blog about what the government isn't doing today but I decided that I am tired of all the negative things going on in the world and I think that the contention between the Democratic and the Republican world is only showing other countries our weakness.
Many props to the men before us for fighting to make our lives so dang good today. We have such amazing freedoms that we tend to overlook and take advantage of. We need to keep our heads up and be positive and make a difference in our communities, knowing that yes, we can change the lives of people around us. We have the power to influence others every single day.
I think the way we can change the future is to put hope in people's minds that there will be some good in the future.
Those men were not living in the past, and we few good men who stand her today shall be the envy of all others, ashamed to have been still in a time of movement. We change the future, but in ways dictated to us by of ancestors. We play within the laws that they constructed, work with the system they were so proud to develop.
I can change the life of another youth two hundred years from now by simply working to join the action that exists; more than that though, I wish to take movement in new directions and help others to see outside the box. It becomes important to not let a system that was designed to be changing become stagnant.
By joining a Caucus in the area I can let my voice be heard among twenty or thirty other people; if what I say is worth listening to then my words can be the voice of the people.
My thoughts are that if none or some of these fortunate circumstances didn't happen that it would be similar if not the same as it is today, just another event in history that we talk about today. I mean don't get me wrong these were huge moments in american history, but even if they did fail, america has failed sometime in history and still somehow pulled through. So in saying this we (america) would have found a way to break from Great Britain.
I think 200 years from now not only me but many people will affect college students. I feel that what is happening today people will look back on and say it didn't have to happen the way it happened.
There is no doubt that history could have been written many different ways that would change the face of the world today. I fully believe that the choices our ancestor's made have affected us in many ways we know and many more that we dont fully recognize or understand, just as the future will be shaped by us in many different ways.
The future is not predestined and our lives are not written out for us that we must live a certain way. We have the distinct opportunity to make choices for ourselves and our future that will either blend us in with the rest of history as insignificant, one piece of the puzzle, or set our name burning in the hearts of men for many years to come.
I believe that we have opportunities everyday in which to stand out and change peoples lives forever if we will only break out of our shells, step forward and make a change!
Things could be very different today even if, as you say, something so simple as the wind had shifted. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that it would only have been worse. Perhaps things could be better today as the result of some other event. I am very grateful for the country and freedoms that I enjoy today and I am not saying that I wish things had gone differently, but couldn't it even be better?
It's hard to imagine that I could affect the life of a college student 200 years from now, but I do believe it's possible. It is easy to go along with the way things are just because I may feel insignificant and don't need to rock the boat, but I think we should always be looking for opportunity to make a change for the better. Speaking out and changing a rule, policy, or even opinion could eventually change a law, which could eventually change a life... even future lives.
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