memory silences the voices of those who seek to interpret the past in contradictory ways
This statement intrigues me because of the word interpret. Prior to reading this I had just known the past as a fact, but now I'm coming to understand that what we learn as history is a simplified interpretation possibly completely different from what actually happened.
It is no coinci-dence that the majority of articles and books used for this essay bear publishing dates within the last decade
I wonder if the history from now on will be more accurate. The recent increase of research on the topic combined with modern technology should in theory record the most accurate data to date. What impact will this have on the future? Is there going to be something missing? no room for legends to be formed over time.
a reflection of why one construction has more staying power than its rivals
This is an interesting point. It reminds me of the quote by Winston Churchill, "History is told by the victors". Our understanding of the past is entirely dependent on the generations before us. The victors are the ones whose stories we hear because they are the ones who went on to build our nation.
People create versions of a harmo-nious past in response to various <level-JUNE 1995 opments that make them feel uncomfort-able in the present,
I thought this was an interesting point, and I have found it to be true in my own life. It always seems like the past was better than the present is and this would explain why. It becomes easy to live life reflecting on your past and all of the good memories that come along with it, but if you're conscious of the fact that the harmonious memories are stripped of unpleasantries as a coping mechanism, it will become easier to live in the present.