Published: March 01, 2008 04:48 pm            

VASICEK: The root of current events

I am not a history buff, but I do appreciate the importance of history. Knowing how we arrived at our present location might guide us in aiming for the future. Being familiar with history makes us wiser, in my opinion. We can learn from past mistakes and avoid reinventing the wheel. We can decode patterns of cause and effect. We can have a better understanding of the stream by surveying the head waters.

Take March 2nd, one of the least celebrated dates of our year (OK, someone out there has a birthday – let me admit to a few exceptions!). But even an insignificant date like March 2nd has ramifications for today.

On this date in 1791, the “communication revolution” began in Paris. That’s right. The first Semaphore Machine in Paris, France, became operational. What is a semaphore? (OK, punsters, I know, “hauling stuff across country!” Ha ha.) The real definition is “an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as a light whose position may be changed.”

The semaphore was more advanced than both smoke signals and horse relays. The semaphore system did not last long – it was replaced by the more efficient telegraph, which was replaced by the telephone, which is currently being displaced by the cell phone and Internet. The conclusion seems obvious: We aren’t done yet! What’s next?

On March 2, Congress passed an act in 1807 that later set the tone for the Civil War – and therefore the beginning of the end of slavery: “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, it shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held to service or labour.”

Although we have yet to fully recover from the long-term effects of slavery (and the racism associated with it), we can wonder where we would be now if Congress had not taken this first step. The lessons: (1) The sooner we correct wrongs, the better and (2) It is a lot easier to mess things up than it is to remedy the complicated repercussions of our wrongs.

On March 2, 1836, Texas presented its Declaration of Independence to the Mexican government. This was the backdrop for the Mexican-American War, according to Wikipedia:

“The Mexican-American War was an armed military conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas. Mexico did not recognize the secession and subsequent military victory by Texas in 1836; it considered Texas a rebel province.

“... The most important consequence of the war for the United States was the Mexican Cession, in which the Mexican territories of Alta California and Santa Fé de Nuevo México were ceded to the United States.”

The U.S. grabbed land from Mexico; we call this land California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado!

How does this relate to current politics? According to the Center for Immigration Studies: “In 1970, Mexicans represented less than 8 percent of the foreign-born, but in 2000 they accounted for almost 28 percent. Both in absolute numbers and relative to other immigrants, the Mexican immigrant population has increased enormously over the last three decades.” In addition, more than 75 percent of these immigrants have arrived within the last 20 years!

Because of our land grab from the Mexican people, some immigrants feel justified in sneaking across the border. Although I do not agree with illegal immigration, they do have a point that is tough to contest.

History may help us understand our current problems, but it only sometimes directs us toward solutions!

Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.

        

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