Which Map are They Using?

I’m sure that many of you know, or have met, someone who has a story that goes something like: My father, my grandfather, and I were born in three different countries, but we were all born in the same house.

Now, to those of us born in the United States, this may sound rather odd. After all, we’ve enjoyed stable borders for generations, although the people who live on reservations, probably see things differently, and although it is actually the same issue, we’ll save that for a later time. The fact is though, that in much of the world, such stories are rather common, and changes in national boundaries along with the displacement of peoples is as old as the history books. Politicians have grabbed land, expelled people, or forced them to change their nationalities, and even their languages, for centuries, all without asking the opinions of those affected.

A short search on the internet can link you to a video of someone who is obviously very upset about the loss of his people’s land, which occurred at some point in time, often long, long before he was born. He’ll make a very emotional case and even produce a map showing just what the borders should be. However, search a little further, and you’ll find his antagonist who has a very different version of the story, and he’ll show you his map to prove his point! Which brings us to the core of the matter. They’re using maps made centuries apart! They’re both correct according to the map which they consider to be divinely inspired.

They forget that the parties involved are all dead. It didn’t happen to them. It happened to ancestors who died long before they were born, and those who live there now had nothing to do with it! They’ve got chips on their shoulders that they wear with as much pride as generals wear stars on their epaulets! They’re filled with anger and hatred, so all of the reasoning in the world will do no good. Facts and logic cannot do battle with emotions.

So, why am I bringing this up?

Something good can come of this, not for them, but for the rest of us, and that is this:

It is far beyond my ability to create, but perhaps some university or other large institution with vast historical resources could build a web site with overlay maps. Not a few, I mean a comprehensive site in which, say, I start with Western Europe as it is today, and then select a period of time and a transparent map from that time is overlayed onto it. Or, I could select a particular nation perhaps even relatively obscure regions such as Ruthenia or Cisleithania and explore how they have changed over the centuries. What a way to study history and geography at the same time!

It need not be limited to political boundaries either. Perhaps maps showing changes in agriculture or climate could be added. The possibilities are only limited by our imagination.

Of course, this would do nothing, or next to nothing, to settle long standing grievances. I suspect that in many cases, the grievances are really just projections so as not to be confronted with painful and current realities. Those who have chips on their shoulders often want to have chips on their shoulders, it’s part of their nature to be angry and upset. But, for the rest of us, such a web site would providemany insights into actual events both past and present.

It’s something to think about.