I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but it seems almost criminal when people destroy documents of historical relevance, no matter what the reason. We might not always be pleased with the past, but the fact of the matter is, it happened. It is there for us to try and understand, rather than hide away or alter or erase.
So, this story about documents dating back more than a century and a half spoke to me, and it seemed natural to share it.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it is not so important to preserve such documents? What do you think? Does it even really matter? Please feel free to share any thoughts or questions on the subject.
"160 year-old Documents Intentionally Destroyed in Franklin County, N.C". By Grace, December 21, 2013:
http://stumblingintheshadowsofgiants.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/160-year-old-documents-intentionally-destroyed-in-franklin-county-n-c/
I agree with you. Whoever is responsible for destroying those documents - and based on the article there's some confusion as to exactly who that is - overstepped their boundaries in truly grotesque and irreparable fashion. While what they did is presumably 100% legal, as I see it that's entirely besides the point. It's vitally important that we keep records of the past - everything from books, deeds, and correspondence to art and visual records (photographs, archival footage, etc). Can you imagine if some misguided imbecile had taken it upon himself to use the Magna Carta or the Declaration of Independence to start a camp fire or line a birdcage? Don't get me wrong, I'm not implying that those documents in Franklin County, NC were on a par with the two I just mentioned. But if documents or other historical records manage to elude loss and destruction for over a century and a half, might there not be a case to be made for the idea that they belong to posterity, as opposed to any one person or group of people?
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