Revisionist History
A friend of mine recounted a story of taking her 12-year old niece Haley to dinner to celebrate her sister Sophia's 8th birthday. Haley mentioned that some celebrity was born the same day as she was. Not to be outdone, Sophia announced that she shared the same birthday as the 19th president of the United States. Impressed, her aunt said, "Really? Who was the 19th president of the United States?" Without missing a beat Sophia replied, "John Wilkes Booth!" Funny, right? Maybe not…
My son goes to a small college in Kansas so when I visit him we’re always looking for interesting places to explore in that part of the country. Last fall we traveled an hour away to tour the boyhood home and Presidential Library of Dwight D. Eisenhower in Abilene.
He was a West Point grad, Supreme Allied Commander in the European Theater during World War II, and 34th President of the United States. I’m sure you can imagine how fascinating the memorabilia and exhibits were.
What a legacy.
My son was certainly fascinated with all “the stuff” but at one point paused in front of a photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt and said, “Who’s that dude?”
My stunned response to my private-prep-school-educated-college-student-son was: “I want my money back!”
What are they teaching in our schools these days? (Or is it, what aren’t they teaching…?).
While catching up on old newspapers over the holidays, I came across a story about a Philadelphia radio personality named Rhonda Fink-Whitman who produced a 15-minute film entitled, “The Mandate Video.”
The video is an advocacy piece designed to garner support for mandatory education about the Holocaust in Pennsylvania schools (five states already require it). But why make it mandatory?
It seems Fink-Whitman wants her money back, too.
It all started with a bracelet she bought on a summer vacation that was inscribed with an inspirational Winston Churchill quotation. When she showed it off to her children’s college-age friends, they had the same “who’s that dude?” response.
That galvanized Fink-Whitman to pick up a video camera and see what other college students knew (or didn’t know) about major historical events and figures. She visited Temple, Drexel and Penn State Universities, and the University of Pennsylvania. Trying not to embarrass anyone, she asked our future leaders random, basic questions.
Q. What was the Holocaust?
A. “The Holocaust, um, I’m on the spot now,” said a Temple student.
A. “I have no idea,” responded a Penn State student.
Q. How long ago was the Holocaust?
A. “Was that like 1800,” answered a University of Pennsylvania student. “I want to say 300 years ago.”
Eisenhower?
Never heard of him.
Adolf Hitler?
The leader of Amsterdam.
If you’ve ever seen any of Jay Leno’s late night Jaywalking sketches where he conducts “man on the street” interviews with regular folks, you probably aren’t shocked.
A sampling of some of the lowlights:
Q. Can you name one of the 10 Commandments?
A. Freedom of speech.
Q. What can you tell me about the Gettysburg Address?
A. Well I don’t know the exact address…
Finish this statement: Four score and seven years ago our fathers…
A. Who art in heaven…
Q. Who wrote the autobiography of Malcolm X?
A. I don’t know.
Q. What president was named “Tricky Dick?”
A. Bill Clinton.
Q. What is the required age for the President of the United States?
A. Over 18…
And my personal favorite:
Q. Who was the French Emperor who has a pastry named after him?
A. Crème Brulee.
By the way, the 19th President of the United States was Rutherford B. Hayes.
But you knew that…