I mean no offence to the brave men

I think the men who died in this war should be forever honoured. But Britain does not seem to teach its children about even the Battle of Britain which in some ways was more vital to win. It makes you think if children do not know about the Battle of Britain they will certainly not know about Verdun 1916 etc in which their great great granddad fought in. Its a bloody mockery of the efforts of the men in both wars.

Ben

I'm a teen & the only reason I learn this stuff us because I want to, most of my friends don't know squat & most of my non-friends don't either. Sad isn't it.

Keith,

[Barrett]

Ben: Trust me, the Battle of Britain was immeasurably--immeasurably--more crucial to your national survival than ANYTHING that happened 1914-18. In the summer of 1940 there was a genuine threat to British sovereignty that (as Churchill noted) had gone unmatched since 1066.
The Great War cost part of a generation despite no serious threat to Britain. The BoB, lasting four months rather than four years, was one of history's decisive battles. Just ask yourself: which would have led to greater consequences--a German victory on the continent in 1914 or in Britain in '40?
The question answers itself.

[mike_baram]

Ben,
It's a pity that Churchill is being relegated to the footnote section of history. Ridiculed and rejected by his own party, he still had the courage to call the shots as he saw them.
Britain ignored his warnings about the coming conflict and it was only his fighting behind the scenes to ensure military preparedness that made the RAF's superiority during the BoB possible.
I wonder what will happen to his memory when Barret's and my generation is gone. Who will remember, or even care?
Mike

It's really getting beyond a joke in Australia too. I took modern history in high school. An example... My history teacher had just finished discussing Appeasement etc. and then said how on 1 September Germany invaded Poland. She then said "Now lets turn to page xx of the text" and lo and behold, it was August 1945.

And that was my complete high school experience of World War II. We did everything before and after in great detail, causes effects, etc. But none of the actual fighting.

About the only campaign we ever learn about is Gallipoli, which, while it is obviously of symbolic importance, pales into insignificance beside the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Kokoda trail, and so on, where Australia was actually under threat.

I have no idea why this is the situation. I guess the Politically Correct Thought Police got into the high school history syllabus. You would think they would have learnt by now that people mustn't forget what WWI and WWII were like.

It's like Guy Gibson said in the end of 'Enemy Coast Ahead' - "If people forget, they bring war on themselves."

Mike,

I can tell you, the future doesn't look too good! There are a few of my friends who know who Churchill was, but history on the whole generates very little interest.

With the exception of course of Ben, Keith and me

Regards,

Simon

Ben,
I guess those people you're speaking of have never heard the old axiom of "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it!" With all the different groups of crazies running around these days, it's a distinct possibility that it COULD happen. As long as there are some of us around to remind these types whom they owe their freedoms to, then there's a chance they might just avoid it, but somehow I doubt it.
VBR,
Jim

[Shooter]

Jim:

That paraphrased quote comes, I believe, from the Spanish-born American educator, philosopher, and poet George Santayana (1863-1952).

A favorite of mine...both the man and the quote.

I don't think we should be too negative here. I went on a school trip in July this year to the Western Front and was very impressed with the respect that those 15 year old kids showed, not just to the British but to all those who fought and died there. In fact, their behaviour put to shame some of their elder compatriots and I've seen some pretty bad stuff!

One young woman wrote a very moving poem which is now on the WFA web site (http://www.westernfront.co.uk) and some were in tears when we visited one cemetery. So, don't knock the kids too much. Sure, some are right idiots (we had one on the trip) but it's too easy to write them off. Give 'em a chance and they might surprise you - they did me.

Jim

I do not know what it is but anyone who like history these days is sometimes called sad. I have been called it in my college class due to my intrest in early planes. It seems kids think that to be cool you have to hate history and be arrogant towards it. Speak to a kid on his own and they will be more willing. They should respect thoses old people walking about no mock them, as if it was not for them they would proberly not be around. I hold the old people in Britain with great respect, as when they are dead I think Britain as it was for 1000 years will have died. I love what Britain was, not what it is.

Regards,

Ben

[mike_baram]

Disdain for history, Balkanization of multi-ethnic western societies, and degeneration of third world countries into religious and social chaos. Is this what they meant by "The New World Order"?
Aux barricades, mes amis.