Absurd past

The history teaching wing of the ruling class seems unaware that history happened in the past. It has universally, irritatingly and absurdly taken to speaking of it in the present tense. They tell us “The Turks are at the gates of Vienna” and “The Roman Empire is waning”. Recently, when, instead of saying “The Battle of Waterloo was being fought right then”, the TV said “The Battle of Waterloo is being fought right now”, Frit almost went along to Belgium to watch. Or should that be “Frit is almost going to go to Belgium to watch”?

From now on, Frit is considering talking of the past in the future perfect continuous tense, something like “Frit is going to have been going to Belgium to watch the Battle of Waterloo, soon”.