“The preservers of history are as heroic as its makers.”
Pat Morris Neff, former president of Baylor University and two-term governor of Texas.
I first heard this quote when we interviewed Robert Darden in Chicago. Here’s how Robert used it.
You know when I was a Baylor student there was a sign carved into the marble on the big administration building and I just hated it. And when you’re 18 to 21 you hate a lot of things if you don’t understand it. It was something like, “The preservers of history are as heroic as its makers.” And I thought that was the most asinine thing that I had ever read. And I hated it for years and years, ’cause it always had such a reactionary feel to it. But now… I wouldn’t claim that I’m heroic — a guy who can save redwoods, that’s pretty heroic — but preserving this [gospel music], if not as important as original creation, is important in its own right. And things that are lost forever can’t teach us anything, they can’t fill us with the emotions that they were meant to fill. And if it was recorded and it’s of that caliber, then it deserves to be saved.
It came up again in a post written by Eric Ames for The Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections blog, In A Time Of Uncertainty, The Pursuit of Permanence Reinforced. It’s a beautiful essay about finding comfort during trying times.
MEHope
David,
I’ve always maintained that the heroic is the every day. Those that get up and do what needs to be done everyday; they meet their obligations and responsibilities no matter how mundane. On occasion those people rise up, do more, and see it as what is expected of them. There are thousands of heroic accomplishments happening right now, most we will never hear about, but they will keep us human and humane.
David Licata
Mary!
Thanks for leaving such a beautiful comment, and so well expressed, but that’s to be expected of a poet, isn’t it?
I agree wholeheartedly, and I suspect Robert Darden does, as well. But he’s a modest man and I don’t think he’d call himself heroic ever!
Hope this finds you well. And if ever you felt like contributing something to this here humble little blog, I’d love to post it. This blog, and the world in general, needs more poetry.
David
MEHope
Oh, David, I will take you up on that…maybe soon!
David Licata
Looking for the “Like” button, Mary. Whenever, it will be an honor and a privilege.