History to us is very important. As public historians or historians in general, it is our career, our life ambition. Whenever a history event occurs, we reflect on it and either celebrate or solemnly remember it. The assassination of JFK is a moment in U.S. history that touched the lives of everyone present that time. The election of Obama in 2008 was a landmark event in U.S. history. These are momentous events according to Mankind.
On a personal note, celebrations of birthdays, weddings, and achievements are instances of personal historical moments. It is important to the individual personally and can viewed historic to that individual. Getting a driver's license is a great achievement to a person and his/her family but not a great achievement in the wider scope of history according to Mankind.
But according to Time, these events don't matter. According to Time, history is part of it. Time is continuous. Therefore History is also continuous. History keeps on going infinitely. To history the past is the past. It does not stop to watch an event taking place. It does not stop to join in on a great event. Nor does it stop and prevent a tragedy from taking place such as 911.
We often look back at our past and wish we could have been a witness to a great historical moment. A lot of people would have liked to be a witness to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To us, this would have been a great sight to see that our forefathers by signing that document created a new country that in its present day has become the greatest country in the world. To History, July 4 1776 is just a ordinary moment in its continuous journey. It is not considered significant according to History. Likewise on a personal note the day if someone wishes to see the day that he/she is born but can't see it. Its a historical moment according to that individual but not according to History. We can only create our present History and future History. The past is something we can only read about, hear about, or watch clips of.
Very deep. Moments are only important when people decide they have importance. A hundred people are killed in car crashes around the world and history doesn't care. 100 people are killed fighting British soldiers in Concord, and they are the shots heard round the world.
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