Wood drastically underestimates the impact of social distinctions predicated upon wealth, especially inherited wealth

I wish I could suffer fools better. Usually, I'm fairly tolerant unless something is especially egregious; then, like Will Hunting, I don't know how to let go.

We were in Waco over the weekend attending Melissa's grandmother's wedding. Naturally, we met her new husband's middle-aged children and their college-aged kids. The family, all Aggies, except for one daughter, mentioned to Melissa and me their family's annual Thanksgiving divide while watching the game. We knowingly nodded and mentioned how difficult it will be deciding how to dress our kid - either in burnt orange or maroon. The daughter recalled dressing her child in a maroon top and orange bottoms, or vice versa.

At this time, her college-aged kid came over, overheard part of the conversation, and mentioned a line of clothes called A House Divided. They sell onesies, t-shirts, and all sorts of clothing with the colors and logos of adversarial universities. We mentioned we had seen some Texas/A&M clothing and even some Texas/OU clothing.

The kid then says, "Texas/OU? That's weird. That's a fairly new rivalry but Texas and A&M have hated each other for a long time."

Luckily, we were still inside the church and Melissa guided me away before I could say anything.

Next morning, I was watching ESPN and they were previewing the Lakers/Celtics championship. I wish I was paying more attention so I'd have some names.

Anyway, the sportscaster, who just happened to be female, showed a picture of Bird followed by a picture of Magic. The voiceover then said, "Celtics. Lakers. It was with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson that this rivalry began." I couldn't hear anything else because my head caught fire.

Gordon Wood just published a book titled The Purpose of the Past: Reflections on the Uses of History.

Knowing something about anything that happened prior to our own birth is sometimes useful.