This is the U. S. S. Arizona Memorial. To me, the image says Pearl Harbor more than any other I’ve ever seen. Let us never forget what occurred at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii 76 years ago this week! It is a major event in our nation’s history and a date that should live in infamy … but will it? Is it in the memories of most Americans?
It was a Sunday morning when Japanese bombs rained down on the home base of the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet … which brought the United States into what would soon be known as World War Two.
Of the many warships sunk on December 7th, 1941, miraculously most were able to be raised and enter the battle that lie ahead. The Arizona is one of two which remain to this day under the Pearl Harbor waters. Due to its extensive damage, the ship was considered a total loss and of little value. After much deliberation, it was determined that the remains of the nearly 1,000 sailors who died at the time it sunk would be best honored by being left in place.
My concern comes from a recent conversation, where a friend of my wife’s shared with her that she is very unhappy in her work. The reason? She is an elementary school teacher and, while she loves her children and feels a deep commitment to providing them a full education, her supervisor continually presses her to cease teaching the history of our nation … saying “it’s a waste of teaching time, they’ll pick it up later.”
I agree with this young teacher in her steadfast belief that these children should learn, need to learn about the key events and happenings that have impacted our nation and who we are today … beginning nearly 400 years ago when the Pilgrims landed on Cape Cod in Massachusetts in 1620.
Four long, hard years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War Two coming to an end, I entered 5th grade … the year I would learn both American history and American geography … for which I am truly thankful and much of what was taught then I still remember. This was fortunate, as I have no memory of ever receiving any additional teaching of American history during my remaining school years.
Back to the reality of today, with administrators in our school systems considering the teaching of our history––such as when 240 years ago, men of great courage declared and brave patriots fought for our independence and the right to be a free nation––a waste of teaching time … how long will most Americans, regardless of age, even continue to remember the details of 9/11? Is it still included in the curriculum of most schools, or is it already being erased from history?
Philosopher and poet George Santayana, who did most of his writing in the early part of the 20th century, is quoted as saying: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it! If our young ones are not taught the stories of what transpired on this continent and in the world over these last four centuries, how will they have the knowledge needed for choosing the right path for themselves and their country?
