by Barry Mccormick

Created on: April 24, 2009

Hindsight is a great thing. We can look back at past times and see the good things, and also the bad and learn from them. The only problem with hindsight is that it can not change one thing in the past. As a species who experience guilt and shame I think if we had the ability to go back and change the past we would without hesitation.

When it comes to the question would I change history if I had the chance, that is something I would consider a little more. As people who sometimes live with deep regret, if someone asked us if we wanted to change an instant in time we would jump to it with no thoughts about the consequences about what could possibly happen.

Theorists have came to many conclusions about possible outcomes changing a particular moment in history could have. Take the Grandfather theory for instance. You go back in time and say get in a fight with someone, you hit that person too hard and they die. That person was your great, great grandfather. Result: you could never have been born.

Answering this question is hard as you need to weigh up the decision of changing a particular instance in history to change what happened in that instant with the unknown continual affect of that change. Changing something could work out better but there is also the chance things could work out for the worse. And that's the thing about history, everything has a continual impact on the events which follow. It's like a line of dominoes, by changing one instant you are merely changing the direction but its effects will continue.

Events in the past are like a carefully woven piece of fabric. Change one piece in it the design of the whole is altered. And that is why I personally would take care upon making a decision to change the future.

I have to confess and look back and history when I see the pain, blood shed, and many tears that are constantly seen throughout history, say the World War, do you not think for an instant anyone would not want to change that? Loved ones lost and if that never happened they would still be around.

Personally, in conclusion, if I was offered to go back and change history I would have to refrain. Even though things I could change may have brought lots of tears we know now the affects of what happened and can learn from it. However changing those events ultimately leads to the unknown. And I am not persuaded that path would be for the better.

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