In the 10th grade literature class I teach this afternoon, we will be discussing our collective memory as a society, and how things disappear from the rear view mirror, if you will.
The students are reading either Night by Elie Wiesel or Hiroshima by John Hersey. We have discussed how as something horrific was happening, people told themselves stories about how it wasn't really that bad. They were unable to imagine that their definition of a bad day was about to be exanded in heretofore unimaginable ways.
One point I'd like to make today in our discussion is that as we look back on the past, there is some history that is still in living memory. As firsthand witnesses die, though, history is prone to re-interpretation by interested parties, and even prone to denial.
I know I have read about (I believe) and African concept where there are two different words for "dead." The first is for the recently dead, where they are still remembered by the community. A person is not dead in the second sense until all their friends and family are also dead. They have passed out of living memory. Can anyone tell me these words I can't remember? Links would be welcome too.
Also, feel free to kick in your two cents on talking about this period of our history.
Peace.