Argumentation Blog #6: Sarah Gudger

         During the era of slavery in the United States, many lives were changed for the worse. The effects of slavery lasted for many years after its abolition, showing the true scope of its harshness. In a description by 121 year old Sarah Gudger, it is shown that affecting things such as slavery never truly are forgotten. She describes it using a metaphor: "You know the stars don't shine as bright as they did back then". Traumatic experiences such as that of Gudger cannot be forgotten easily. The stars gone are the trauma that has clouded her mind. However, there are also some things that can and should be left in the past.
        Trauma is the key word to understanding the idea of forgetting largely affecting events. In the case of perhaps seeing a traffic accident or being in a natural disaster, the loss of someone or something can be hard to get over. Similar to Gudger's experience of losing her mom to slavery, she cannot see things in the same way. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the National Institute of Mental Health, is, "a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary event". Those affected with PTSD may experience symptoms such as flashbacks--recurring images of the traumatic event, or even staying away from places or things that may trigger bad thoughts or flashbacks. To those affected, things cannot be seen in the same way. Gudger feels this way, though her description is not as harsh as those who have PTSD. On the other hand, some things may be easy to forget. People often move on from something that they invest emotion into, such as a breakup. Though it may be hard, they can go on to live as they did before.
        There are some who view that it is easy to forget anything. Though there are treatments for PTSD, some may not fully recover from the effects and the typical "fight or flight" response that comes with it.
For example, people who have fought in a war may still feel repercussions of it; anything loud will scare them. This is not easy to recover from, thus they cannot forget this. Extremely traumatic experiences are not easily forgotten.
        Some things are small, and easy to forget. Others, the traumatic ones, not so much. It should be known to everyone that forgetting is not so easy. When someone says, "Just move on", it may not be enough. Stars can reappear, but not all of them will come back.