Life Isn’t Fair

You may have heard this saying in your youth. Probably from your parents or grandparents. It was usually meant to shut us down during some sort  of argument concerning what we perceived as someone getting the better end of the stick. But where did this saying come from? And why is it such an important saying? 

Fairness, properly defined, is “freedom from bias, dishonesty, or injustice.” To be fair is to be just; that is, to be “guided by truth, reason, and justice.”

It has to be all of that above- If any of that is missing, then there is no fairness.

The earliest documented quote about fair that I could find in America comes from Oscar Wilde in 1893- Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not. Now his statement was penned in a play he wrote called “An Ideal Husband” This play dealt with politics and corruption. But for the pioneers before that, they learned all to well that the term fair was relatively meaningless in their world. 

I while back I brought a close friend along with me to explore, photograph and check the conditions of several Cemeteries in Bell County Texas. Many of these have been long forgotten, but have markers dating back to the early 1800’s, and even a few date back to the late 1700’s. One cemetery in Particular was the Sunshine cemetery. As I walked around looking at confirming names on the markers, my buddy made an interesting statement. He was looking at many of the markers and said, “This seems hardly fair. Some of these families had several children and no issues. Some of these families had all of their kids die before they were ever 10 years old!”

My reply was simple. “There was no fairness in the 1800’s. There was only life.” A quick look at infant mortality in the 1800’s is sobering- Statista states that- The child mortality rate in the United States, for children under the age of five, was 462.9 deaths per thousand births in 1800. This means that for every thousand babies born in 1800, over 46 percent did not make it to their fifth birthday.  

So when we see this, Imagine the settlers from Europe, really believing they had a chance to start a new life. They had NO idea what was waiting for them. Indian wars, disease, and infant mortality near 50% Some families seems to escape many of these disasters unscathed, yet others….. They were met with the injustice of early death, the seemingly unjust victims of earth’s fury. Drought, disease, and we haven’t even mentioned the attacks they endured from the local tribes. 

Yet they endured. Communities were formed. Churches, schools, post offices, and even masonic lodges were built. They seemed to prosper and grow. Communities were joined to create towns and cites. Lessons learned from the personal unfairness towards others, created Organizations, designed to help the less fortunate. It made them stronger, kinder, and wiser from the past, working towards a better future for others. 

We are were we are now, because of the “unfairness” of the past. And that seems fair to me. 

History!-Some thoughts and ideas

By Keith George January 4th 2023

History (derived from Ancient Greek ἱστορία (historía) 'inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation') is the study and the documentation of the past. The time period of an event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of these events. Historians seek knowledge of the past using historical sources such as written documents, oral accounts, art and material artifacts, and ecological markers. History is not complete and still has debatable mysteries. (excerpt from Wikipedia) 

How do we handle History? 

 In todays political Climate, that has become a challenge. Some groups want to “alter” or erase our past altogether, by removing statues or placing important documents in archives. Thus making it harder for others to see and understand the very past that has shaped us. We also have the continuous challenges of growth in and around Bell County. New Home developments are quickly taking land, and some of this land has significant historical value to all. 

These two challenges alone can allow us to lose our way and hamper our preservation efforts. We need to continue to be vigilant, and investigate our history in those areas that are quickly disappearing. SO, how do we do that? It may not be as hard or as bleak as some think it is. 

A while back, I was visiting Lincoln New Mexico and met with some local folks that were trying to add some historical facts to their town. They were working on what is called a “Pioneer Map” of the town. It became apparent that there were going to some serious issues with what and what was not going on the map. My love of history got the best of me.  I interrupted the discussion by asking, “These stories and facts sound great! Can you prove it?” I got stares and blank looks for a few seconds. Now look, Lincoln has an incredible history with the Billy the Kid story of his last escape and killing of the local sheriff. It almost stands on it’s own. Eventually I explained my view. 

History is not a linear point to point world. It is spherical, with many intersecting points and lines. The back stories are often way more interesting than the actual event itself. However, History is not folklore, and we have to be very careful on our presentation to the public. It only takes a Google whiz, to literally destroy what is presented. SO, I have developed what I think is a simple way to Preserve and promote our history. The 6 P’s.

1. PROVE- We have to prove what we say. That means looking at documents, landmarks, and even 1st person accounts if they are available. Just because someone says it happened here, does not make it so. NO matter how hard we want something to be true, it may not be. AND even if we want to ignore an event does not make it go away. History has several constants. It is not always pretty, it is not always fair, but it is always there. 
2. PROCESS- We need to process those documents in a manner that makes sense. That also means going to a location, getting photos, trying to find old photos, asking for the public’s help in finding out as much as we can. Then taking the findings in an organized manner to make a complete report or story. 
3. PRESERVE- That means taking those documents, and scanning them, for later access and use, and storing those documents in a manner for others, so they can further investigate our history. It also means buildings and cemeteries need to be preserved by any means possible that preserves their integrity, and does not endanger others during their visits. 
4. PROTECT- Protect those documents, and locations within the laws of the State and Federal Historical Commission’s Laws and guidance. It will allow others to enjoy the incredibly rich and unique history we have here in Bell County.
5. and 6 PRESENT and Promote- Now more than ever in our digital world, we can easily promote our history, by using video, presentations, and even live speeches and shows outside of the regular monthly meetings

It is a tough task, and many would say it impossible. I disagree. I think we can start small, and work towards getting more volunteers, as well as getting the community involved. That may mean making presentations to school faculty, to include local University Historical departments. It could lead to them working along side of us, in projects to better bring to light our County. 

I am currently working on a personal project that is derived from the book “Bloody Bell County” I don’t want to show my hand yet, but I think that will be a fun, and educational project for many folks to enjoy. 

I am also planning on trying to help in any way I can with the Upcoming Cedar Park Project in Harker Heights.  As the Chair of Preservation, it is my goal to try and save as many of the original buildings, and other pieces still there. Did you know that the Jail cell from Bell county where the the 9 men were killed in the Bell County Jail on May 25th 1874, is actually located at the Cedar Gap Park? (Don’t worry, I can prove it!)

We will be sharing stories of our area from time to time. Reminding you and us of our past and how much we have grown. 

Soon we will share a google map that shows the location of the Cemeteries here in Bell County. You will be able to click on the icon at the cemetery, read about the history and view some of the pictures taken there. You will also be able to navigate there using your phone as well. 

SO here we are a new year and new plans. Let em know what you think. Email me at jkgeorge1960@gmail.com with your thoughts, or even if you have some history you would like to share with me. I’ll bring my camera and scanner.