The Importance of History

America has forgotten the importance of history. Most schoolchildren are woefully ignorant of the basics, and will grow into woefully ignorant adults who think the world began with their births, and who will accept any crackpot idea because it hasn`t dawned on them that this idea has been tried in the past and found wanting. That is the meaning of the George Santayana expression ``those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it``; you will continue to make the same mistakes if you do not know and understand where you have come from.

That`s why when I write I usually try to illustrate my points with an historical example-preferably an example not a modern example, either. You cannot get a sense of where you are going if you don`t know where you have been.

Our friend Mike Austin is a history teacher, and he opines on the importance of history at his excellent site The Return of Scipio. He clearly illustrates why history is important, and why it empowers those who know and understand it.