For the Futures Sake, We Need to Remember the Past

Have you ever heard the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led
by Dr. Martin Luther King? The movie, Selma (2014) is based on this historical
movement and directed by Ava Duvernay. It describes that how Dr. Martin Luther
King and other revered leaders led thousands of nonviolent demonstrators peacefully
protested to gain the equal voting rights for the black people. The racist violence they
encountered and suffered is definitely a shame of the countrys history. The movie, in
my opinion, is artful, inspiring and beautifully shot. It also inspires me to think that
why is it important for a country to remember the past including those negative and
shameful history, and why movies like Selma is important and necessary. In this
paper, Im going to state that the country should always remember and reflect upon all
its past including the negative aspect because it will help us consolidate our national
identity, avoid making the same mistakes in the future, and develop fair judgment.
Reflect upon the past can consolidate our national identity. Our past defines who
we are as a unique country and how future generations view those before them. Dr.
Martin Luther King successfully led the movement against racial segregation and
discrimination. Such movements are remarkable and definitely contribute to a heroic
identity. Our future generation needs to know those great movements, and they can
appreciate the efforts that were done by those heroes and will behave in a similar way.
Acknowledging what happened in the past will help us avoid making the same
mistakes again. According to a philosopher, Santayana, George, Those who cannot
remember the past are condemned to repeat it (Flamm). In the movie Salma, the

marchers made their way through Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were attacked by
the troopers after the marchers didnt listen to the commanders order to disperse. Cheered on by
white onlookers, the troopers attacked those unarmed and defenseless marchers, chased retreating
people and continued to beat or shot them to death. The troopers attacking those people who were
fighting for their equal rights as American citizens triggered national outrage, and the event was
named as Bloody Sunday. By seeing what those people suffered and how they were unfairly
treated, and acknowledging the bloody Sunday, we will be more appreciated for todays society
where the racial segregation is gone and all races have a equal right to vote, and will not to make
the same mistake and let the history happen again.
Remembering the past can help us develop fair judgment in world affairs. The

eternal words of the Declaration of Independence, All men are created equal, didnt
apply to all the U.S citizens, especially not to those African-Americans. They were
treated unequally and brutally like slaves, and brought and sold like property until
1960s. (Martin Luther King, Jr.). The African-Americans history in the U.S helps
us understand that in any countries in the world, buy and selling people and treating
them inhumanly are wrong. Some people might argue that we need to respect other
countries culture because some countries culture practice that may be seen as wrong
to us, but for the country, the practice is part of their culture. For example, some
countries in Africa, there are a culture practice called Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM), also known as Female Genital Cutting. In their culture, the female genitalia
are unclean, and its shame for a women having sexual desire. Cutting the female
genital can ensure a girls virginity and stay chastity for her husband (Female

Genital). This culture practice is extremely cruel and harmful to girls health.
Inhumanly treating people cannot be tolerated by a civilized society. The bad and
inhuman culture should be abolished. In the past, those African-Americans were
treated inhumanly, and today we all acknowledged that it was wrong. The past
educated us what is right and wrong and help us develop fair judgment.
It is important for our country to remember the past because it defines our
national identity, helps us to avoid making the same mistakes and develop our
judgment. Historical and factual-based movies like Selma played a pivotal role in
helping us remember what happened and learn from the past. Watching a historical
movie is a funner and easier a way to study our past.

Work Cited
Female Genital Mutilation: History and Facts. Mount Holyoke College. n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.

<https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~mcbri20s/classweb/worldpolitics/page1.html>
Flamm, C. Matthew. George Santayana (1863-1952). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. n.d.
Web. 9 Feb. 2015 <http://www.iep.utm.edu/santayan/>
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Historical Background. Handout. New York University. New York, NY.
N.d. Print.