In fact, the past is not history, but a much vaster region of the dead, gone, unknowable, or forgotten. History is what we choose to remember, and we have no alternative but to do our choosing now.
The quote from Joseph J. Ellis emphasizes the distinction between the vastness of the past and the concept of history. The past encompasses everything that has occurred, including events that may be lost or forgotten over time. In contrast, history is selective; it represents what we decide to remember and focus on. This act of choosing is crucial, as it shapes our understanding of who we are as a society and...