Education, Education, Education

[mantrahunter]

Today, I managed to find four people at work who neither knew who Nelson Mandela was, nor what apartheid was.

I can think of no statement, witty or otherwise, that can follow that.

What is the world coming to? And why am I turning in to such an old man?

Comments

[hairyscotsman]

Enlighten them to the great man and the great mistake!

[bikes_galore]

You know, I asked several boys who were in the 1st and 2nd year at my school who William the Conqueror was and which battle he fought in 1066 and very few of the uncultured swine could answer. Apparently, a frighteningly large proportion of people believe Hitler was a fictional character, according to one BBC survey at least.

And people wonder why there are some who advocate social Darwinism...

[the_hat]

[paperzen]

Not knowing about history doesn't make you a moron. Especially pointless religious events such as the reformation and who faught who in the 9th century.

The knowledge of historical events does not make you intelligent.

[bikes_galore]

True, but it gives you a greater insight into the modern world, the origins of nations and of course yourself.

Oh and 1066 is the 11th century and its fought I think you'll find...

[bikes_galore]

What's this about the reformation being insignificant religious history - ever been to Northern Ireland? Ever considered where a huge amount of the religious (and racial) bigotry which has plagued Europe for centuries might have come from? Next you'll be saying its pointless to learn of the Crusades because they never had anything to do with the wars in the middle east, whatsoever, oh no siree bob.

Not knowing history doesn't make you a moron, but statements such as yours do...

[dragonsire]

Looking at it.. his goal was reached, the struggle was over, thereby consiging it to the history books. The only reference most people have is if they took modern studies in school or read by their own choice the big book of history/appropriate documentory of his actions.

I know that i never got a teaching of the apartheid or Nelson Mandela's actions. The only real knowledge i got was peripherally, i wasnt a documentary type person, didnt get tought it at school (we got WW1 and lead in to WW2, the vikings and a few other period chunks) I didnt read the newspapers and still don't.

all in all i wouldnt say i was badly educated, but unless you choose to go out and find out about chunks of history, there is only so much time to educate you in history/modern studies classes.

[rnicoll]

On a completely different note, do you have an AIM, MSN talk, Google Talk or .Mac account?

No.

[mantrahunter]

There, short answer to that one. I used to have AIM, but I don't want AOL infecting my machine anymore, and they shut down my screenname ages ago anyway.

Skype is the way forward, I tell you! And it doesn't have to eat bandwidth Ross - just use the IM function!

I may be getting some sort of additional messenger thingy, as Murasaki recommended something. I'll have to look in to it.