The Vindication of History

Today’s newsletter is more letter than news. I’ve been thinking a lot about the nature of our present moment. It can be hard to step outside of it and to see the passing of time as it affects every atom in the universe. As surely as the sun rises, time will catch up to all of us in the end. Many speculate about what comes after from a personal standpoint; from the perspective of one’s own consciousness and actual experience of dying. Does it all fade to black, and then nothingness? Is there something that comes after, whether heaven or hell or rebirth or reincarnation or something else entirely?

I am not here to solve the question of mortality. Rather, I draw attention to this in order to contrast with the other aspect of dying: what happens to everyone else when someone dies. This is how history is made. The vast majority of everyone in human history have already left this mortal coil behind. We who remain are tasked to carry on their stories. Though many embellish (especially when talking about themselves), the Truth will always out. There is Caesar the man, and there is Caesar of William Shakespeare. It is undeniable that ‘The Bard’ has had a tremendous impact on our remembrance of Julius; but when you dig into history, actual history, you find the facts behind the curtain.

Something I’ve found extraordinarily liberating is the simple realization that the opinions of others literally don’t matter. Truth matters. Facts matter. Opinions do not. It doesn’t matter what someone thinks they know. If they are right, then they are right; and if they are wrong, then they are wrong. History does not discriminate. It can only record what is fact, and what is fiction.

Obviously, I’m not naive. There is a lot of fake history out there. I have come across some pretty wacky and surprisingly popular fake history channels. Hell, the literal History Channel was putting out “Ancient Aliens” BS long before the most egregious current offenders took off.

But there is such a thing as objective truth. Truth is context-independent. There is nothing that can be done to stop it or change it. It simply is. Given a long enough time scale, Truth will win out.

And that, is what has enabled me to become who I am now. I’ve never been writing for you, dear audience of today. I sincerely appreciate your time and attention, and I couldn’t do this without your support. But my writings, my books, even my letters I sent so long ago—all of this has in actuality been for future history. My “target audience” has not been born yet, and won’t be for quite some time.

Because I know something my detractors do not. I know actual history. And in knowing actual history, I know Truth. I know how the events of our time will be recorded. I have never once doubted that I stand for the Good, for Justice itself. And that is how I will be remembered.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a very flawed individual. My sins are many. I drink too much, I sleep all day, and I let messiness pile up until I just can’t take it anymore. I am stubbornly independent to the point of detriment and my tongue has been known to contain barbs. I am too loud and too cynical. I am so far from perfect that I can’t even see it.

But when it comes to my advocacy, this advocacy: no, I do not doubt that I will be vindicated in history. The Good is on the side of the people of Israel. This is a moral fact as immutable as time itself. The opinions of eight billion barely-evolved primates, my fellow humans, do not matter one iota. If they stand with the people of Israel, then history will praise them. If they do not, or choose to take sides against, then history will shun them.

This is simply how it is. There is nothing to debate. I have tried my hardest to save others from the historical disgrace now guaranteed to them. I tried to save those close to me. I tried to save our political and educational leadership. I have failed on all fronts. But I tried.

Though I do not presume too much, I believe that this effort has earned me the right to be remembered. I hope posterity can see past my faults without overlooking them. I’m just a guy. A flawed individual full of self-doubt. But the one thing I came across that actually mattered, I grabbed ahold of and clung to for dear life.

And even if I’m not remembered, I will still be vindicated by history. Centuries from now, kids will learn about us in our time. They will know the truth of what happened, or as near as they can come. I will live on between the lines of that moment. My opponents will too; but they will live on as the faceless, nameless scourge of hate that I have fought and will continue to fight. This, too, is a conclusion I am satisfied with.

I’ll end this rather philosophical essay here. I’m already a day late with this letter and I’m sure people are starting to wonder what’s up. Back to current events next week, I think. Stay safe. Stay sane. Am Yisrael Chai.