The prism of history

       A word of caution on historical things, like the battlefield reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg 150 years ago.

            I sense many think historical movies, books, even reenactments, are accurate portrayals of what happened. If that sense is so, then many bad decisions and thoughts and beliefs may result.

            Like an expression many have heard, "take things with a grain of salt".

            After all, the people are different, the terrain is different, like even vegetation growth, the circumstances and values and politics are different, and the times are different.

            And as hard and competent people do their best these days to consider all aspects, the world is different, after all.  Trees grow up, for example.  Often many of these fine people have to focus on the logistics  and finances of just trying to reenact, or even write books about history.

            The only constant I can still detect (and believe in) is the power of ideas, beliefs, and cultural customs. Said another way, we humans don't change all that much in many ways.

            After that, it is mostly entertainment, to me.

            And I do like being entertained.