And since our memories tend to be selective remembering mostly what serves our purposes the burden of the historian is to restore and retain that memory until it is as true and complete as we can make it. Just as the United States is a diverse nation, consisting of people either from or descended from people all over the world, so, too, is it vital for our collective memory and our world outlook to have historians who represent that diversity, who can provide a special slant or perspective so we can all do a better job. No one has a corner on truth, and there is no single truth. The more we can learn of the past of the entire human experience the better we may be able to survive. In this fundamental task, historians play a central role.
Someone needs to continue the work.
I'm nosy enough to want to put my two cents in, and I'm concerned enough to care. It's also fun to learn about people, both famous and ordinary. Because times are always changing, habits change, as do styles, customs, technology, and levels of knowledge. In other words, I like to light sparks and to make a difference. Perhaps you'll be able to see a little bit of yourself among the words of those who have contributed to this pamphlet.