Life of Riley: Sentenced to history

Issue 

Life of Riley

Sentenced to history

It is a feature of existence, often noted in the circles within which I move, that history repeats itself — the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. This may not be an immutable law, but it sure resembles the way the cookie so often crumbles.

History has a way of plodding ever onward, despite any number of New Year's resolutions to the contrary. Time and tide, as they say, wait for no-one.

Indeed, it would be true to say that we are all sentenced to history. The dead hand of all past generations rests like a nightmare on the mind of the living and, despite themselves, each generation must make what it can of the accoutrements bequeathed to them by the past: a dash of ideology here, five parts tradition, two parts circumstance, and voilà! — welcome to today!

I don't know about you, but this can make for one helluva day-to-day. No-one asked me to join the wheel of fortune — I was told — and I don't see very many prizes on offer from the wheel.

So, being the kind of guy I am, I thought I'd challenge my route through history to see if I could alter it somewhat. Bend it a bit more my way.

The way I read it, my personal plan to challenge history required me to reconstruct myself. To change history I needed first to change myself.

But this change is a very different process from deconstruction. I wasn't so much going inward by peeling off layer upon layer of muck, but outward — reaching out to merge with history in order to fall in with its line of march. My impetus wasn't simply to interpret it, but to change it — and by striving to change it, understand it.

I am pleased to announce that now history and I are getting along famously. We've had such times together, history and I.

Of course, I'm no celebrity, nor am I likely to become one. While history is forever promising fame and fortune, I doubt if I'll warrant a footnote. This is something one learns to accept. Those who seek to change history don't get good press.

Still, we persevere, working at the coalface, digging at the foundations like a burrowing creature. That's what we evolutionists are all about.

By Dave Riley

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.