Why History is Important and Why Ignorance is Dangerous

by Jack

eagle409If people don’t know about our history, then they can’t appreciate it. If they don’t appreciate it, they won’t place any value on it. If something has no value it’s not worth defending.

The Washington Examiner wrote this in 2014: “On the 70th anniversary of D-Day, a lot of people are clueless about central elements of the Allied invasion of the European continent on June 6, 1944.

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has released the results of a survey, which finds only slightly more than half (54 percent) of those who took a multiple choice quiz knew that Dwight D. Eisenhower was the supreme commander of Allied forces on D-Day. Fewer than half knew Franklin Roosevelt was president and 15 percent identified the location of the landing as Pearl Harbor, not beaches named Utah and Omaha. One in 10 college students were among those giving the wrong answer.”

Only nine states require civics education testing for High School graduation. Which may help explain why only one in three college students could pass a basic civics test for immigrants. (Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning & Engagement at Tufts University.)

President Obama apparently doesn’t know his US history very well either, “We hear a lot about the United States’ Judeo-Christian heritage, but Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding.” That’s what the president told a White House conference on “countering violent extremism” in 2014. He may wish it were so, but history is about truth, not wishes.

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22 Responses to Why History is Important and Why Ignorance is Dangerous

  1. Harold says:

    Well in defense of Obama’s comment of (And lord knows he needs it almost daily) “We hear a lot about the United States’ Judeo-Christian heritage, but Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding.”

    It may have just been the audience he was playing to in which ever of those 58 states he also made a reference to.

  2. RHT447 says:

    Do tell. From elsewhere on the web…

    “You see, America sold the scrap metal from the dismantling of New York’s Sixth Avenue elevated train line to Imperial Japan three years before Pearl Harbor. Japan used this metal to manufacture the bombs, bullets and warships used in that attack. America willing sold Japan the means of its own (short term) destruction.”

    Today, we have this…

    “Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, appears to have permitted Russia to acquire a significant portion of America’s uranium reserves and mines in exchange for millions of dollars of contributions to the Clinton Family Foundation. Additionally, Russians with a stake in the transaction paid Bill Clinton $500,000.00 for one speech in Moscow.

    This Clinton scandal’s got staying power because isn’t about money. It’s about national security.

    Russia provides Iran its uranium. Iran is building a nuclear weapon. President Obama is set on a deal permitting Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Mrs. Clinton’s decision means Iran forthcoming nuclear device will likely contain fissile material made in the USA.”

    Links:

    http://www.gormogons.com/index.php/2015/04/plato-told-hillary/

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-as-russians-pressed-for-control-of-uranium-company.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

    Re: #1 Harold…

    I seem to recall a vague reference somewhere to the “shores of Tripoli” but other than that, not so much.

  3. Peggy says:

    Also hate to defend Obama, but he was right. The Muslim Barbary pirates raided our ships and enslaved Christians and American Indians during our founding. It appears the Muslims were slave traders who brought the African slave to US shores.

    Not necessarily something to be proud of. But, I forget the PC now is to vilify the Christians and give accolades to Muslims/Islams.

    Barbary pirates:

    “In addition to seizing ships, they engaged in Razzias, raids on European coastal towns and villages, mainly in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal, but also in the British Isles, the Netherlands and as far away as Iceland. The main purpose of their attacks was to capture Christian slaves for the Ottoman slave trade as well as the general Muslim market in North Africa and the Middle East.[2]”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_pirates

  4. bob says:

    Speaking of ignorance, is our average voter aware of the incredible global warming hypocrisy by Obammie, Gore and other politicians and ex-politicians and countless gooberment bureaucrats?

    http://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/04/20/want-a-green-pass-you-fly-your-own-private-jet-heres-how/

  5. Pie Guevara says:

    This goes far to explain left wing “progressive” voters. They cannot be bothered to even learn their own history.

  6. Harold says:

    RHT in Post 2:

    what I found typical about the “Uranium 1” story, was that Hillary’s political machines opening defense of her reported participation in the uranium transfer,
    (which amounts to 20 plus% of the US production & supply)was;

    “[No one] has produced a shred of evidence supporting the theory that Hillary Clinton ever took action as secretary of state to support the interests of donors to the Clinton Foundation,”

    No ‘SHREAD OF EVIDENCE’ is a interesting choice of words to use in denying ones involvement. No denial or even a explanation (possibly not contrived yet) of her using her office or Bills influence to explain those multi, multi million dollars flowing in to her Husbands Foundation from Uranium 1.

    Just a statement stating ‘NO SHREAD OF EVIDENSE’ well they can say that until they are as blue in the face as Monica’s dress.

    When it comes to the Clintons, and their weasel like lying stories,if your liberal minded, nothing they do is ever proven, nor do many live to tell the true story.

    ‘But what difference does it make Now!’ might have been just as good a response as NO SHREAD OF EVIDENSE when it comes to Hillary.

  7. Peggy says:

    I thought that Obama had to go back a thousand years to criticize Christians, and didn’t criticize what the Muslims’ real history was to the founding of the US. One would think their participation in slavery would be important to our half black president.

  8. Peggy says:

    Obama and Erdogan to open new mosque together in Maryland:

    “A couple of years ago it was reported that Turkey was helping fund the building of a $100 million dollar mega mosque in Lanham, Maryland. In fact Erdogan visited the mosque when he was here in May of 2013, promising to come back for the opening.

    Well that time has apparently arrived and now Erdogan and Obama will be together at the mosque for the big opening ceremony:

    http://therightscoop.com/obama-and-erdogan-to-open-new-mosque-together-in-maryland/#ixzz3YFjsUmPo

  9. Chris says:

    What on earth is a “shread” of evidence, and why must it always be written in all caps?

  10. Chris says:

    Peggy–you seriously trust the state run news agency of Turkey, a government that denies the Armenian genocide, for accurate information?

    The White House denies this story completely:

    http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_washington-denies-turkish-fms-claims-of-obamas-mosque-opening-plan_378518.html

    I understand that you are desperate to post anything and everything that makes Obama look bad without any effort to ensure that it’s true, but some healthy skepticism would be refreshing.

    Also, you are completely misrepresenting Obama’s statements regarding Christians and Muslims, but you know that already.

  11. Pie Guevara says:

    Eagle do not cry and if you are looking for people responsible the ignorance of Americans look at extreme left wing agitators people like Chris.

  12. Peggy says:

    Here’s a high school student who’s not ignorant and got an “A” for his answer.

    High school student is asked to write about “where you get your news”, response is LEGENDARY:

    “Hope for the future! This kid will go far, he sees the world for what it is.”

    http://www.youngcons.com/high-school-student-is-asked-to-write-about-where-you-get-your-news-response-is-legendary/

  13. Peggy says:

    Chris, you on the other hand seriously trust and parrot EVERYTHING the left-leaning main stream media publishes and airs. You could become better informed if you didn’t rely on sources like Mother Jones and MSNBC. You really just show your prejudices and ignorance every time you write something here.

    Most of us take nothing you say seriously and don’t bother responding any more. We’ve learned having a dialog with you is a waste of time and effort.

    Have a good day filling your brain with your progressive ideology.

  14. Peggy says:

    Guess who else denies the Armenian genocide? Chris will hate the answer.

    Armenian genocide: why Obama won’t say the words (+video):

    “President Obama’s campaign promise – to refer to Armenian genocide – remains unfulfilled on the 100th anniversary of the start of the killings. US-Turkey relations hold sway, but the president also suggested his true feelings.

    At least 25 countries, including Germany, Austria, France, and Russia, call the atrocity a genocide. On April 12, Pope Francis referred to “genocide” when celebrating a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica to commemorate the 100th anniversary.

    The Armenian-American community expressed its dismay in a statement Friday.

    “We are deeply disappointed President Obama has chosen to break his promise and stand apart from the global community on speaking the truth about the Armenian Genocide on its 100th Anniversary,” wrote the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America, an umbrella organization of more than 20 Armenian-American groups.

    The committee also accused the president of, once again, turning “a blind eye to genocide for political expediency.”

    Obama’s position is all the more noteworthy, given that his UN ambassador, Samantha Power, is an authority on genocide. In 2003, she won a Pulitzer Prize for her book “A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide.”

    http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0424/Armenian-genocide-why-Obama-won-t-say-the-words-video

  15. Peggy says:

    Since it is the 100 anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the Christian holocaust I thought I’d share in this post about the importance of history and the real dangers of ignorance an article by someone who is not afraid to tell the truth by saying, “Holocaust” and “Genocide.”

    The Crucial Reason Glenn Beck Says the World Must Recognize the Armenian Genocide:

    “The world must recognize the Armenian genocide without delay for two reasons, Glenn Beck said in a special Thursday called “The Root: Christian Holocaust.”

    “Continued denial of the Christian holocaust is not only a slap in the face to Christians of all backgrounds, but it is a green light for the next crazy genocidal maniac to unleash a new reign of terror,” he warned.

    Beck noted that Adolf Hitler referenced the Armenian genocide when plotting his own, saying: “I have placed my death-head formations in readiness … with orders to send them to death mercilessly and without compassion, men women and children of Polish derivation and language. Only thus shall we gain the living space which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/04/23/the-crucial-reason-glenn-beck-says-the-world-must-recognize-the-armenian-genocide/

  16. Pie Guevara says:

    Re #11 Chris :

    What on earth is a “shread” of evidence, and why must it always be written in all caps?

    Typical Chris. When he has nothing he nit picks typos.

  17. Chris says:

    Peggy, you could have just said “I was wrong,” it would have been a lot shorter.

    Why is it that when you post something that simply isn’t true, you don’t care, and you try and turn it around on me? It would be one thing if you could point to specific lies I have forwarded here from the liberal sources you name, but you can’t. You also ignore that I frequently link to right-wing sources myself, as well as objective non-partisan fact-checking agencies, to back up my claims. It is rare these days that I link to progressive or liberal sources because I know you won’t ever trust them.

    Obama did NOT agree to appear at the Turkish-funded mosque with Erdogan; that was a lie, and your right wing source parroted it because it fit what they wanted to hear.

    I agree with you that it is wrong of Obama not to acknowledge the Armenian genocide in those words, but it is also wrong of you to claim that he “denies” the genocide; from what I know he is marking the event as a tragedy but he is avoiding the word “genocide,” just as every other American president has. There is a difference between that and an outright denial. No US president has ever acknowledged the Armenian genocide due to political concerns, but admit I had hoped Obama would be the first to do the right thing in this regard. So I am with you that this is disappointing, but it’s a disappointment that extends to all modern presidents, not just this one.

  18. Peggy says:

    Chris, The difference between Obama and the other presidents is in 2008, when he was campaigning said it was a “genocide.” Watch the video. He lied again, while the others didn’t.

    Senator Barack Obama (2008) Discusses The Armenian Genocide:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmoY_4HhyTE

  19. Peggy says:

    Off topic, but had to share. I really like Ted Cruz’s honesty and would love to shake the hands of the two gay men who hosted a reception for him. It would be so refreshing to have a president we could believe.

    Two Gay Businessmen Host A Reception For Ted Cruz, And Liberals Show Their True Colors:

    “I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Cruz is a class act. I love how he ruffles the left’s feathers. And this just goes to show how they operate. It’s not about gay marriage. It never was. First, they were targeting Christian business owners. Now, they’re attacking gay business owners. So what’s the real deal here?

    It leaves me with a couple of questions. What’s “worse?” Being a conservative with gay friends, or being gay with conservative friends? It would seem the latter would be true.

    Liberals are always liberals first. Always.”

    http://chicksontheright.com/blog/item/28522-two-gay-businessmen-host-a-reception-for-ted-cruz-and-liberals-show-their-true-colors

  20. Chris says:

    Peggy: “Chris, The difference between Obama and the other presidents is in 2008, when he was campaigning said it was a “genocide.” Watch the video. He lied again, while the others didn’t.”

    Again, that makes his refusal to acknowledge it as a genocide now especially disappointing, but that’s not a lie, it’s a broken campaign promise. In that video he makes it pretty clear that there are political and diplomatic concerns involved in officially recognizing the genocide as president so he definitely left some wiggle room there. I’m not defending his choice–it may be politically sound, but it’s morally wrong.

    One of the hotel owners who hosted Ted Cruz has already aopoligized after reading more about Cruz’ position on gay marriage:

    “I’ve spent the past 24 hours reviewing videos of Cruz’s statements on gay marriage and I am shocked and angry. I sincerely apologize for hurting the gay community and so many of our friends, family, allies, customers and employees. I will try my best to make up for my poor judgment. Again, I am deeply sorry.”

    http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/04/26/gay-businessman-who-hosted-cruz-event-apologizes/

    I understand why you believe this should be an issue where people can respectfully agree to disagree. This issue doesn’t have any effect on your life one way or another. I can also understand why some members of the gay community and their allies would be upset enough to boycott the hotel. Ted Cruz is trying to keep them from achieving full equality. Imagine if black business owners invited George Wallace to speak about the economy in 1965, and you might see the problem.

    This is the civil rights issue of our time and it has happened so fast that I honestly can’t see any candidate who opposes same-sex marriage winning the presidency in 2016. Cruz will not be president.

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