History...

It is at night when I become my most philosophical. After a weekend of diplomacy and neighbourliness at the Model NATO conference in Ottawa surrounded by poli sci and international relations students, I have reflected on my own status as a historian.

History in itself and not as it is studied, is a special beast. History does not dwell. It continues on day after day knowing full well what has happened and moving forward nonetheless. History is life itself. History does not judge, it simply continues at a steady pace, never looking behind it. We could all take a lesson from history. But it was not history who lost battles, empires or soldiers. It was us for not knowing enough to understand what we were seeing and to write it down somewhere. On a piece of clay, granite, papyrus, anywhere. It left us the clues and all we had to do was hold onto it.

History as it is studied is not elitist. It is not meant to be placed upon a shelf and used only by those with the privilege. It does not do well there. Eventually, lack of use makes it slowly wilt in memory and eventually dies a sad and invisible death. History is not a sport of kings. It is not polo, played by dukes and princes while their wives drink tea on the sidelines. It throws itself at the feet of the world and begs them to use it. It yearns to be read, found, touched. It does not have the time to stop. It continues on, leaving a trail behind it, daring everyone to chase it.

And do you?