By Aiya Kelley

Through the years, history has somehow rewritten itself in many ways. How does this happen? Sometimes, it is because of a lack of timely Journaling, when those who witnessed the events firsthand fail to record what they saw, heard, and experienced while the memories are still fresh. Other times, it happens when a story is repeated and passed down for decades, changing a little with each retelling. Like a game of “telephone” or a piece of gossip whispered down a long line of people, the end result can become nothing like the way the story began. Somewhere along the way, the truth gets lost, distorted, or buried beneath layers of other people’s interpretations.

Sadly, there are times when history is rewritten intentionally. A narrative is carefully thought out, planned, created, and executed, until it becomes the version of events that future generations are taught to believe. When that happens, the consequences can be devastating. Lessons that should be taught and learned are erased, sacrifices are forgotten, and generations to come are left without the full story of the people, events, and decisions that shaped their world.

If we do not preserve the truth of our own time, who will tell our story when we are gone?

Whether you are a fan of President Donald Trump or not, if you can recall the state of our nation when he made the decision to run for the presidency, you cannot deny that millions of Americans believed our country was in trouble, spiraling out of control, and desperately needed a change in direction. They did not believe that direction would come through his opponent. They were looking for something different, something that would restore their confidence in their country and give them hope for the future.

President Trump gave up a life of ease, pleasure, wealth, and work that he enjoyed to step into the world of politics, where criticism, controversy, and opposition would become a constant part of his life. Why would a man who had already achieved so much willingly walk away from the comfort of that life? His supporters believed it was because he was troubled by the condition of the country he loved and wanted to do something about it. Whatever one’s opinion of him, there is no denying that his decision forever changed the course of his life and placed him at the center of one of the most consequential periods in modern American political history.

But what will our history books teach about this man? What will our children and grandchildren be told about the years that shaped our nation and the president who stood at the center of them?

Will they downplay the dangers and troubling events that concerned Americans before Trump entered the White House? Will they conveniently forget the terrorist attacks, including attacks carried out by Islamic extremists, and the horrific acts of violence that shook our nation? Will they remember the political battles waged by Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and others against the conservative principles that so many Americans believe are essential to preserving our great Constitution? Will they have a memory lapse when it comes to the economic challenges, financial hardships, and disparities that existed before Trump ever became president?

Will they tell the story of the accusations, investigations, and relentless criticism he endured, and allow future generations to examine those events for themselves? Will they remember the battles he fought, the obstacles he faced, and the victories his supporters celebrated? Or will some of those chapters be shortened, softened, or left out altogether because they do not fit the narrative someone wants to tell?

And what about the numerous attacks on his very life?

Will our children’s children know that on July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, President Trump was shot in the ear in front of a watching world? Will they see the images of him rising after the shooting, pumping his fist into the air, and shouting, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”? Will they understand the emotion of that moment, when a crowd had just witnessed an attempt on his life and he stood before them, blood on his face, refusing to disappear quietly from the stage of history?

Will they hear about the security concerns that followed him, the restrictions placed on his movements, and the extraordinary precautions surrounding his public appearances? Will they understand the determination his supporters saw in a man who continued to appear before crowds despite the dangers he faced?

Will history tell the story of his wife and children, who endured years of public scrutiny and political attacks? Will it acknowledge the personal cost of living in the spotlight, where even family members can become targets of criticism and hostility? Will future generations learn about his relationships with leaders around the world, the respect he received from some, the disagreements he had with others, and the diplomatic relationships that helped shape his presidency?

Or will these details slowly fade away until our grandchildren know only a name, a few dates, and a version of events that leaves them wondering why this man mattered so much to so many people?

Well, once upon a time, there was a president who changed the course of the greatest nation in the history of the world. He did so at great personal cost, giving up a life that some can only dream about, knowing that he could never simply return to the life he had before. He endured criticism, ridicule, and relentless opposition. He was turned against by some he had considered close friends, and he experienced the disappointment of people he had trusted.

Yet, as his supporters would tell the story, he forgave many, welcomed some back into his inner circle, and continued to work alongside people with whom he had once disagreed. They saw a generous man, someone who was happy to give a hand up to others and who served his brothers and sisters behind the scenes, without asking for repayment or praise.

Perhaps that is another part of history we sometimes lose: the personal side of the people we turn into political figures. Behind the headlines, the speeches, the controversies, and the public battles are human beings whose lives are shaped by sacrifice, disappointment, loyalty, betrayal, and the desire to leave something meaningful behind. No president is without flaws, and no historical account should ignore them. But neither should a person’s entire story be reduced to the flaws others choose to emphasize while the rest is forgotten.

A life is more than its controversies. A presidency is more than its headlines. And history is far more than the version of events that happens to be repeated the most.

After the tale, we were all supposed to live happily ever after. But did we?

Did America become everything we hoped it would be? Did the divisions disappear? Did the struggles end? Did the promises become reality? Or are we still living through the unfolding chapters of a story whose ending has yet to be written? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, we can hope that the recordings, photographs, documents, and writings of our time will remain intact and accurate. We can hope that firsthand accounts will be preserved and that future generations will have the opportunity to examine the evidence, hear the stories, and form their own understanding of the years we lived through. We can hope that history will not be reduced to political talking points or rewritten to satisfy the preferences of those who come after us.

But hope alone is not enough. We must do our part.

I would challenge each of us to teach our children and grandchildren about the years we spent helping to “Make America Great Again” and working toward what President Trump has called the “Golden Age of America.” Tell them why we believed in that vision, what we hoped to accomplish, what we witnessed, and what those years meant to us. Share the victories we celebrated, the challenges we faced, and the reasons we believed our country was worth fighting for.

Let them know what it felt like to live through these times, rather than simply reading a few paragraphs about them in a textbook written decades from now. Preserve the photographs. Keep the recordings. Write down the memories. Tell the stories while the people who lived them are still here to tell them.

Because one day, our children and grandchildren will look back and ask what really happened. They will want to know who we were, what we believed, why we stood where we stood, and how the decisions made during our lifetime shaped the country they inherited.

When that day comes, may we have left them more than a story. May we have left them the truth.

And may the generations who follow us understand that history is not merely about who held the highest office, who won the greatest political battle, or whose name appeared most often in the headlines. It is about the choices people made, the sacrifices they endured, the principles they defended, the mistakes they made, and the lessons their lives left behind.

Once upon a time, we were here. We witnessed these years. We lived through the uncertainty, the arguments, the changes, and the hope for a better tomorrow. Let us make sure our part of the story is never forgotten.

History is being written today. Let us do our part to ensure that tomorrow’s generations will know how we lived it – and why it mattered.