Comparing Histories

Carving Turkey - 2008

Thanksgiving Desserts from 2008 Dinner

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. A national holiday supposedly commemorating the beginning of our country. I recognize that there were flaws with how America started, but I also realize that there was a great need for a new nation in the late 1700’s.

Thinking about my country’s history sort of makes me chuckle.

When I moved to Los Angeles I remember the local building preservation committee getting all up in arms about a ‘historic’ building that was about to be razed. They argued that this ‘historic’ building told a part of Los Angeles’ history and could not be torn down.

I inquired about the age of the ‘historic’ building and was floored to find out that it was built in the 1920’s! This was a ‘historic’ building?!!? My grandmother (who is still alive) was alive when this building was built. How could this possibly be ‘historic’?

Paris has buildings that were built in the 1400’s. There are walls that are still standing in the heart of Paris that date back to 1190. So how could a rather modern 1920’s building in Los Angeles be considered historic?

The perspective that I have on my young country’s history is just that, that of a young country.

After I gave our ‘historic’ LA building some more thought, I now realized why the building historic society was so concerned with razing that 1920’s building…one day it will be 900 years old and if we don’t protect it today, then it will never last. It’s not about today’s historical significance…it’s that of tomorrow’s.

There is a huge gap in America and Europe’s histories…but both tell a story worth listening to, a story of today.

The oldest building in Paris - home of Nicolas Flamel - built in 1407.

The wall of Philip Augustus used to fortify the right bank from 1190 to 1209.