So, where were you?

That's the big question going around.

I was in class.  It was announced over the PA system.

We could not believe it.  Our president—ASSASSINATED?!

This was not in the history books we grouched about...this WAS history, being made, alas, before our eyes.  It was a whole new world. 

A LOT of kids today would read the above paragraph and have no idea what I was talking about.

Think about it:  A LOT of kids today were not even born when 9/11 happened. 

So for kids or teens, or even adults who can't see why we bother to study history—get a life, as they say:  your life...because this IS your history, my history, our history. While it helps if we all speak the same language when we are trying to communicate, it really helps if we all understand the history of where we came from...what happened...why...

As it has been said, "History isn't the past...it isn't even history."

If you don't agree, tune in to all the media coverage of the 50th anniversary of JFK.

We don't forget, because we don't want to forget, nor should we ever forget.

It's easier to learn history when you are in school, and then never let up, but continue the story, the saga—if you think it's dull or boring or unnecessary, well...

The next time a kid grouses "Why do I have to study history?" sit down and give them a really good answer.

If JFK doesn't do it for you, then try WWI, WWII, MLK, 9/11...all the things we care about so much we eventually distill it into a snippet of letters or numbers.  But behind those snippets is history worth learning.   

You can be an adult without learning history, but you really can't be a valid part of the national conversation, a part of common ground, a part of the curiosity that creates, cures, and cares.  

Light the fire of the eternal flame of history under some kid you know.

Because BISO (Because I Said So) is not nearly a good enough answer.