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Well-Known Member
German Chancellor Gerard Schroeder's campaign declaration of his country's "existential" independence from the international community surprised many Americans. America, after all, liberated Germany not once, but twice, from murderous, totalitarian regimes. America helped to rebuild the decimated country following World War II and defeated the Soviet Empire that had separated East Germany from West. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld says Schroeder's rhetoric has "poisoned" U.S.-German relations.
But what should surprise us even more is the number of Americans who don't know these facts. Hard as it is to imagine, according to one recent study, one in five high-school seniors believes Germany was our ally in World War II. Another recent survey found that more than one third of seniors graduating from America's top 50 universities as listed by U.S. News & World Report could not correctly name the major Axis nations.
Our fellow citizens' historical illiteracy may make for great late-night talk-show fodder. Who can help but shake one's head when an unsuspecting interviewee can't guess when the War of 1812 was fought? But it is dangerous and divisive for American citizens to be ignorant of our own history and role in the world, particularly as we fight a difficult and complicated war on terrorism. How is one to make sense of the debate over what to do about the "axis of evil" if one believes Hitler was our friend?
The war on terror is not a war that will require this nation to put a large portion of the American public on the frontlines. Today's military is high-tech and low-manpower, a situation for which we should be thankful. There is also no need for Americans to engage in the home-front activities of the sort we saw in World War II — no Victory Gardens, no war bonds, no conserving rubber, or saving bacon grease. Instead, we are called to remain alert and vigilant in the face of future threats and suspicious activity.
This war also requires us to seriously and knowledgeably weigh the steps our government must take, both legal and military, to bring our enemies to justice and construct a world free from the scourge of tyranny. That starts by knowing precisely what it is we fight for, why, and how our legal, political, and historical traditions apply to our efforts in the conflict — and to our aims.
That is why, as part of his USA Freedom Corps program, President Bush has unveiled the beginning of a civics and history initiative designed to refine the civic knowledge of all Americans, particularly American students. The National Endowment for the Humanities is launching a "We the People" initiative, which will include a series of lectures, traveling exhibits, scholarship contests, and educational tools, all with a focus on American civics and history. Together with the National History Day organization, the National Archives and Record Administration is making 100 essential historical documents — beginning with the Lee Resolution of 1776 and culminating with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — available through a new website, ourdocuments.gov.
Meanwhile, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency which oversees AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America, is working through its programs to advance the President's campaign for greater civic knowledge and connectedness. In February, we will join our partner agencies and the USA Freedom Corps to host a forum on what more we can do.
These steps are, however, only a beginning. It will take time and concerted effort to reestablish American history in our schools and in our public dialogue. But try, we must.
Our understanding of notions such as equality before the law have unfolded, often painfully, over time. All across the world, American men and women are renewing the ideals and institutions bestowed to us by our Founders. And all across the world, American men and women are risking their lives to preserve our freedoms. Now, more than ever, we must teach our young people, and remind ourselves, why this nation, to quote Lincoln, is "the last, best hope for mankind."
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-lenkowsky101802.asp
But what should surprise us even more is the number of Americans who don't know these facts. Hard as it is to imagine, according to one recent study, one in five high-school seniors believes Germany was our ally in World War II. Another recent survey found that more than one third of seniors graduating from America's top 50 universities as listed by U.S. News & World Report could not correctly name the major Axis nations.
Our fellow citizens' historical illiteracy may make for great late-night talk-show fodder. Who can help but shake one's head when an unsuspecting interviewee can't guess when the War of 1812 was fought? But it is dangerous and divisive for American citizens to be ignorant of our own history and role in the world, particularly as we fight a difficult and complicated war on terrorism. How is one to make sense of the debate over what to do about the "axis of evil" if one believes Hitler was our friend?
The war on terror is not a war that will require this nation to put a large portion of the American public on the frontlines. Today's military is high-tech and low-manpower, a situation for which we should be thankful. There is also no need for Americans to engage in the home-front activities of the sort we saw in World War II — no Victory Gardens, no war bonds, no conserving rubber, or saving bacon grease. Instead, we are called to remain alert and vigilant in the face of future threats and suspicious activity.
This war also requires us to seriously and knowledgeably weigh the steps our government must take, both legal and military, to bring our enemies to justice and construct a world free from the scourge of tyranny. That starts by knowing precisely what it is we fight for, why, and how our legal, political, and historical traditions apply to our efforts in the conflict — and to our aims.
That is why, as part of his USA Freedom Corps program, President Bush has unveiled the beginning of a civics and history initiative designed to refine the civic knowledge of all Americans, particularly American students. The National Endowment for the Humanities is launching a "We the People" initiative, which will include a series of lectures, traveling exhibits, scholarship contests, and educational tools, all with a focus on American civics and history. Together with the National History Day organization, the National Archives and Record Administration is making 100 essential historical documents — beginning with the Lee Resolution of 1776 and culminating with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — available through a new website, ourdocuments.gov.
Meanwhile, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency which oversees AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America, is working through its programs to advance the President's campaign for greater civic knowledge and connectedness. In February, we will join our partner agencies and the USA Freedom Corps to host a forum on what more we can do.
These steps are, however, only a beginning. It will take time and concerted effort to reestablish American history in our schools and in our public dialogue. But try, we must.
Our understanding of notions such as equality before the law have unfolded, often painfully, over time. All across the world, American men and women are renewing the ideals and institutions bestowed to us by our Founders. And all across the world, American men and women are risking their lives to preserve our freedoms. Now, more than ever, we must teach our young people, and remind ourselves, why this nation, to quote Lincoln, is "the last, best hope for mankind."
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-lenkowsky101802.asp
