Who is responsible for history? As I read and hear about a cry for reparations, from all corners of society today, that is the question I ask. Just who is responsible? In my view I do not share any responsibility for history, unless I directly participated in that history.

My skin tone doesn’t make me responsible for anything, my religious beliefs do not make me responsible for anything, my wealth or lack of that does not make me responsible. My actions make me responsible. I am my brothers keeper, I alone bear that burden.

In the 12 step program of AA the fourth step to take is a moral inventory of yourself. Not an easy or comfortable thing to do if you are honest about that. It is quite easy to justify our choices, the most popular being, everyone is doing it. Later on, in step nine we are urged to make amends, pay those reparations whenever possible.

I am not responsible for the actions of my drinking buddies, the liquor company isn’t responsible for my choices. I can’t blame my physiology for choosing to drink. I’m responsible for that. It is a very rare thing indeed when one drink turns you into a raging alcoholic! You don’t use once and bam, you’re hooked! Not how that works, you choose to continue.

So just who is responsible for history? History is a shared responsibility. Everyone is responsible for that. Each of us are responsible for our part in that. We influence history by our actions, or the lack of those actions. The majority, by any ethical standard, should rule.

That doesn’t mean the majority is always right. The majority will determine the morality of a group, a society, or a nation. When everyone is doing it, it becomes accepted by the majority. The troubling part of history occurs when the minority attempts to impose their morality on that majority.

“A majority taken collectively is only an individual, whose opinions, and frequently whose interests, are opposed to those of another individual, who is styled a minority. If it be admitted that a man possessing absolute power may misuse that power by wronging his adversaries, why should not a majority be liable to the same reproach” (Alexis de Tocqueville 1835, Democracy in America)

Who is responsible for history? Everyone that is “doing it” that’s who. Whatever that “doing” happens to be at the moment. What were the greatest moments in history? It’s a list only you could compile as your view of history is different from everyone else. Google lists the first man on the moon, the Wright brothers, the invention of the printing press and the 13th amendment to the constitution.

Although I bear no responsibility nor claim any credit for it, I would say the greatest moment in history was when asked, by a passerby, Dr. Franklin what form of government have you given us? His reply, ” a republic , if you can but keep it.” Note it is a personal responsibility, this keeping of the republic. Your greatest moments occur while you stand in the voting booth. You are responsible for that!