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[Bentley]

As a child and even a young man, it seemed that this day was remembered for not only those that lost there lives, military and civilian. But as a reminder that we need not become complacent! 

It does frighten me sometimes that there seems to be no sense of history or what could happen if we forget!

[LowSlowJoe]

For me, it has another special meaning...  33  years ago, was the last time I ever did any illicit drugs..  well any drugs for pleasure purposes, or out of sheer stupidity.  Also happens to be the wedding anniversary of some friends of mine.

[Bobitis]

I've an uncle that survived the Bataan Death March. What he endured left him believing he would never get to heaven. If you knew the man, you would know better.

I bear no grievance to the Japanese. They paid their price, and the current nation is steadfast in its allegiance to the US. Same with many other nations.

Yes, the USA is labeled as the bully on the block. Yes, the USA has destroyed many countries in acts of war.

YES! The USA has helped rebuild all of those countries to become nations of prosperity and wealth. We be bad?

I remember. I forgive. I pray for peace.

[hughver]

I vaguely remember this day in 1941 but also, this was my Dad's birthday, he was a US Air Corp pilot in WWII.

[Kristin Meredith]

I am always told how much more difficult school is for young people today, but I am not sure why as they don't seem to have to learn any history or civics.  Scariest thing I have read recently was the article about a poll of under 30's -- 80% did not know what or where or the significance of Auschwitz.  I guess Dec 7 is just another day for Christmas shopping. We need to do better with our younger generations.

[okie smokie]

As a child and even a young man, it seemed that this day was remembered for not only those that lost there lives, military and civilian. But as a reminder that we need not become complacent! 

It does frighten me sometimes that there seems to be no sense of history or what could happen if we forget!

Unfortunately, our children are not required to learn about our past history.  Most of the millennials now do not even know how our gov't is or was constructed, i.e. the three branches, checks and balances, etc. They have been taught well about racial differences, gender identification and inequality problems, evils of any 'ism that they disagree with, and how to be totally impolite to those that differ in opinion.  We are essentially in the middle of a social revolution, aimed at achieving it's goal by indoctrination, and ignoring the facts when convenient.
But I digress;  I remember well where I was on Pearl Harbor Day and what transpired after that time.  I tell my grandchildren all about it, and am told that they do not get that info at school. I think that FACTUAL American history and Government(not politically biased) should be required learning in all high school curriculums. Period. That would help. 

[dk117]

As a child and even a young man, it seemed that this day was remembered for not only those that lost there lives, military and civilian. But as a reminder that we need not become complacent! 

It does frighten me sometimes that there seems to be no sense of history or what could happen if we forget!

Unfortunately, our children are not required to learn about our past history.  Most of the millennials now do not even know how our gov't is or was constructed, i.e. the three branches, checks and balances, etc. They have been taught well about racial differences, gender identification and inequality problems, evils of any 'ism that they disagree with, and how to be totally impolite to those that differ in opinion.  We are essentially in the middle of a social revolution, aimed at achieving it's goal by indoctrination, and ignoring the facts when convenient.
But I digress;  I remember well where I was on Pearl Harbor Day and what transpired after that time.  I tell my grandchildren all about it, and am told that they do not get that info at school. I think that FACTUAL American history and Government(not politically biased) should be required learning in all high school curriculums. Period. That would help.

As a parent of these generation Z kids, I hear you both loud and clear.   My high school freshman is taking what we would have considered college level Biology, Algebra, and Spanish.  Is the education progressive?  I suppose sure.  It's quite a bit more rigorous than it once was.   Is she lacking in civic education? Absolutely.   Did I mention she's taking a full course load of coding class?  That wasn't even a class for most of us.  Times change.  Government,History,Civics,Home Economics, Personal Finance.  Those critical courses have been replaced by coding and GTT (Gateway to Technology).    I think you have to admit that the jury is still out on how this will turn out.  Change is change.   

[GREG-B]

I got no problem with change, but when a generation wants to erase history, that's not a good change.   Ya can't change history but if given a chance, it can be erased from memories.   Then the only thing left is to repeat it.

[Kristin Meredith]

I guess I would prefer to see a High School freshman take a year of civics and history rather than "college level Spanish" . I'll be honest, I don't know what college level Spanish is -- I took 4 years of French in High School (I believe it was the same level as someone who was taking French in college who did not know French -- reading, writing, conjugating, doing papers and presentations in French, not just "conversational French").)  I also took 4 years of Honors English, Biology, Chemistry, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trigonometry and intro Calculus.  I also took 4 years of history, one year of civics, was in the school orchestra for 3 years, in the school chorus for a year, on the year book staff for a year.

So sure, you want to get rid of year book and chorus in favor of coding, that is great.  But you do away with history and civics in favor of coding, then I believe you do a disservice to our youth. My father's favorite line was from 2 Henry VI:  "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."  (I was a lawyer, so that was our joke).  But the message behind it was clear -- and had been followed by authoritarian regimes for centuries -- get rid of those who know the law, the history, the institutions of government and how they are suppose to work -- dumb down your population or guide them towards a focus on consumerism and self ( a la current Chinese government) so they won't know or recognize or care that you are taking away rights. Part of the strength of the US was built on an educated population who had an understanding of their government and institutions and how they should work -- and also an understanding of our history, both good and bad.  A balanced, educated population is to be encouraged in my opinion and not one geared towards any one specialty which may or may not be beneficial in the future.

[dk117]

Again I hear you.  My challenge, gifted, honors, International Baccalaureate, high IQ daughter ...  Who's been to Mexico 3 times and Costa Rica once who just turned 15 and is by all measures getting an excellent education .... I asked her about Pearl Harbor yesterday.  She didn't know much about it.   She knew more about September 11th than December 7th. 

I'm not trying to provoke debate here, I'm only telling you what it's like in my city.  Erasing history might be a little strong, but you're all right (though it hasn't been called civics for a very long time) there is diminished focus on "history and government."

I had to go search for her 4 year curriculum.  I found three classes that might qualify.  None of these are available to freshman. 

PB World Themes    IB History of Americas    IB Modern World History

Much more focus on STEM and coding.    I'm not advocating either way, just sharing my current experience, sample size of one. 

DK

[pz]

I am a firm believer in the old phrase: "those that fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it" because as a history minor, I recognized that the rise and fall of past civilizations often bear significant resemblances to one another.

World wars I and II are particularly important to study because as modern conflicts they evidenced devastating technological advances that potentially affect us to this day. Sometimes even a single person can change the world. For example Hitler was elected because many Germans were tired of the status quo, and wanted someone in office that would "shake it up".

I'm grateful that American democracy along with the allies triumphed in those wars, and that democracy is still largely observed in the world, but it could have gone the other way with a slight change of circumstance.

I am in awe and humbled by the sacrifices made by all members of our military, past and present that make our country so great.

[Bentley]

My point was not that it is not taught, but that the majority of Society does not care about it, and that once upon a time, media did care about remembering it, but no longer does.  And I guess that goes hand in hand with time and change.  Those that run the media today, maybe they never learned about it?

And maybe to the Members who say it is not taught, a reason why?

[pz]

I think you may be correct - it seems that the better off a society becomes, the more the people tend to be apathetic. The media certainly falls into this trap, and of course, their main focus is on their profits rather than serving public good by reporting true news and information useful to a society as a whole.

[okie smokie]

I think you may be correct - it seems that the better off a society becomes, the more the people tend to be apathetic. The media certainly falls into this trap, and of course, their main focus is on their profits rather than serving public good by reporting true news and information useful to a society as a whole.

Perhaps not so much on their profits as on their political biases?  IMO.

[Kristin Meredith]

Erasing history might be a little strong, but you're all right (though it hasn't been called civics for a very long time) there is diminished focus on "history and government."


DK

Yeah, I am sure my use of that term dates me badly!  And I appreciate the insight into one slice of today's education, it is just somewhat depressing to me.

Your daughter sounds like one of our best and brightest -- the very students I would like to learn history and civics because they may think deeply about it and take some lessons from it into the future and be the folks that guide our country 20 and 30 and 40 years from now.  But if they aren't learning it, I fear for the void created and who might come along to fill it for them in the future. 

PZ is right about learning from our past.  But if we don't teach it -- if we don't teach about the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence,the Bill of Rights, the Civil War, the historical oppression of minorities, the Civil Rights movement, the use and abuse of factory workers and the good the unions brought, the women who suffered physical harm to get the vote, the sacrifices of average "G.I. Joe's" and their families to preserve our freedoms -- then where is the context and the vigilance and even the pride that, as a nation we are not afraid to address some of the ugliness in our past and come out better for it? And yes, I was a U.S. History major in college.   So, if you ever want to introduce her to a little U.S. History, please feel free to send her along to me for a few weeks.  We will visit Jamestown and Williamsburg and Yorktown and go to a bunch of Civil War Battlefields and conclude with tours of Phill and DC!!!! And I will be in hog heaven to pass on info to a bright young thing who is our future!