Overall, I have always enjoyed US History class but I never really took it in. I didn't realize this fact until recently. I remember the events that occurred in our history but I seem to have completely forgotten, or I just never paid attention in the first place, in regards to what years these events occurred.I think if I would have been thinking clearly in history class I would have realized that the Civil Rights Movement, which occurred in 1964, wasn't that long ago. My mom was born that year. I'm only 20 years younger than my mom. I would have realized how recently it was that people were given equal rights but that it still took several more years for the prejudices to be removed - that these prejudices are still in the process of being removed.
The same goes for a lot of other major US events such as The moon landing, The Kennedy Assassination, Pearl Harbor, WWII, the great depression, even WWI. It was in the past, but it wasn't as long ago as I used to think. I think I have a living parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who has lived through all of these events. And while they are older than me, they aren't THAT old.
Mostly, I am mad at myself that I am interested in American history AND when it happened now instead of when I could have really learned about it from great teachers. Life is funny like that.
*sigh*
3 comments:
Yes, the subject of history can get a little lost on a person with little history of their own. We should take high school over mid-way through our life. I've forgotten everything I learned anyway. Now would be a good time to revisit it.
This also reminds me of when I did study abroad in London at 19, and I spent my free time shopping and going to clubs. What?! I was right in the middle of all that history, including family history, in England and I cared about shopping and dancing. Ugh. I wish I could go back now. I would be more appreciative.
What were you doing when you heard about the 9/11 attack?
I was sitting in my Physics class talking with my friends when my teacher came in and told us to go into another classroom that had a TV. I could probably go back into that Physics classroom and point to the exact place I was sitting.
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