Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

Common sense suggests an obvious division between the past and present, between history and current events. In many cases, however, this boundary is not clear-cut because earlier events are not locked away in the past. Events from history remain alive through people’s memories and through books, films, and other media. For both individuals and groups, incidents from the past continue to influence the present --- sometimes positively and sometimes negatively.

Do incidents from the past continue to influence the present?
Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.