Interview with Richard Lim
Today’s generations aren’t oblivious to the problems of the past. In recent years, young people in America have participated in important cultural conversations about our nation’s history and how we look at it. Part of that has included questioning whether certain historical figures or other aspects of our history are worth studying, remembering, or honoring.
On this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Richard Lim offers helpful perspective about human nature and the study of history. Richard is the host of “This American President,” a history podcast that delves into the lives and legacies of the men who have occupied the White House.
Richard Lim, Host
“The human condition is such that we should understand that everyone is problematic to an extent.”
This American President
Richard told Know Why Podcast that in his study of history, he’s found no perfect people. “The more you study a person, the more you realize how human they are,” he said.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from those figures or acknowledge their accomplishments. But how should we balance the ugly sides of a person’s life with what they accomplished? Does one outweigh the other? “I think you have to study the core of an idea,” Richard told Know Why. He continued:
“Say the American Revolution. The core of the idea was the idea that all men are created equal. It was the first time any group of people had ever said that. Now again, they weren’t perfect. They were dealing with problems of the old world that were very difficult to deal with, like slavery. But was the cause good? Absolutely. It was a great cause. It was the best cause you could have had at that time.”
“If we’re looking for the perfect cause, the perfect movement, and we aren’t going to study anything short of that, you’ve got nothing to study.”
Richard Lim, Host
This American President
While ideas and historical figures can be celebrated for the positive things they’ve contributed to the world, people can go too far by glorifying eras or movements from the past that were wrong.
It’s a mistake to avoid studying history, even when certain figures are problematic. Studying problematic people, ideas, and movements can help us avoid making similar mistakes today.