If the past does exist, then would it therefore be part of the present? If the past does not exist, then why do we speak of it objectively? We don't speak of the Tooth Fairy objectively because she does not exist. If the past doesn't exist, then it has no reality and it would be absurd to speak of it as though it has any reality. In such a case, criminals could argue that the court is talking about something that isn't real. If it does exist (present tense word), wouldn't that very possibly make time travel possible because the past is part of the present?