Explore the profound impact of historical trauma on communities and why dismissing the past with phrases like "get over it" is harmful and hinders true healing and understanding.

The Enduring Weight of History

The sentiment, "You wouldn't tell soldiers they need to 'get over it.' So don't tell Natives they need to 'get over it,'" profoundly encapsulates the enduring impact of historical trauma. To truly grasp why dismissing the past with phrases like "get over it" is so harmful, we must acknowledge that history isn't merely a collection of bygone events; it's a living force that continues to shape identities, communities, and individuals.

View the image that inspired this discussion here.

The idea of "getting over" a historical atrocity or systemic injustice is a notion that fundamentally misunderstands the nature of trauma, especially when it's experienced collectively and across generations. When someone suggests forgetting or moving on from events like the Hmong genocide, as mentioned in the original context, it's not just dismissive of immense suffering; it's an erasure of identity and a denial of the very foundations upon which many communities are built.

For many Indigenous peoples, the past is not a separate entity but an integral part of who they are today. The pain, the resilience, the cultural memory — all are intertwined. To suggest forgetting is to ask them to forget a part of themselves, their ancestors, and the struggles that have shaped their present.

Healing from historical trauma is a complex, ongoing process that requires acknowledgment, empathy, and systemic change, not simplistic commands to "get over it." It demands that we confront uncomfortable truths about our collective past and work towards a more just and equitable future. Only by understanding and respecting the weight of history can we truly begin to heal and move forward, together.

References and Further Reading

• FACEBOOK.COM
• Rose Clayborne
• Tito Ybarra - For real tho! I hate when someone says well just get over it, it was the past. The past is still part of us. How can we forget? If we forget, it’s like we are forgetting who we are. I remember telling someone about the Hmong genocide & their response was “it was in the past, forget it & move on”.