History is meant to be preserved and studied—it is the record of our past. By studying history, we learn where we came from and how far we’ve come. More importantly, we gain the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and, hopefully, avoid repeating them.
History should be a factual recording. It doesn’t matter whether we view certain events as right or wrong or whether we agree with them or not—what happened still needs to be recorded. One of the things I’ve always loved about history is that it’s filled with the stories of people. It tells of the accomplishments of individuals from all walks of life who contributed to shaping our world. True history is not one-sided—it represents the full, messy, and complex picture.
The danger comes when we revise history to the point of sanitizing it—removing the dark and uncomfortable parts. When we only highlight the good, we lose the valuable lessons found in the mistakes. Humanity is prone to repeating its errors. As Ecclesiastes says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” If we erase the ugly chapters, we risk falling into the same patterns.
Yes, history contains painful and shameful events—discrimination, the Civil War, and slavery, to name a few. These are not moments to glorify, but they must be acknowledged as facts. We can’t simply say, “Oh, it happened, we moved on,” and leave it at that. We have to face the hard truths. The Holocaust really did happen—and denying it or downplaying it doesn’t change that reality.
Another important aspect of history is recognizing the contributions of all people groups. The more we acknowledge their stories, the richer our historical record becomes. Diversity has always been part of our story—women, people of all ethnicities, and marginalized groups have made vital contributions. Yet, too often, we push certain groups aside. Native Americans, for example, have been largely marginalized in historical narratives. That needs to change.
Erasing the accomplishments of individuals based on their race, gender, or background is just as dangerous as erasing the dark chapters of history. It sends the message that only some people matter. But history tells us otherwise. When we look back critically and academically, we recognize that efforts to erase history are often the tactics of dictators and authoritarians. By erasing people’s contributions, they dehumanize them, making it easier to justify discrimination and mistreatment. The mindset that says, “They’re not part of the story, so they don’t matter,” is the same kind of thinking that once allowed slavery to exist.
History is meant to be preserved, recorded, celebrated, recognized, and most importantly, learned from. There are parts we celebrate, and parts we don’t. But we must acknowledge them all—including the atrocities of slavery and the Holocaust—so that we never repeat them.
Equally dangerous are the efforts to bend history to fit a particular narrative. Whether it’s making history more inclusive than it was or forcing it to conform to a singular viewpoint, revisionism distorts the truth. The purpose of history is not to make us feel comfortable—it is to reveal the facts, honor the accomplishments, and learn from the mistakes.
Let us preserve history honestly—recording the victories and the failures—so that we can grow wiser with each generation.
The Dee Zone 