Quote:
Originally Posted by Wustenfuchs
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberia
Now Bill, you should know by now that for some people the best historic reference material is Hollywood movies.
Where else can we learn that the sun sets in the east(Ballad of the Green Berets)
The American Navy captured the first working enigma machine(U-571)
Recently freed slaves wore digital watches(Glory)
The British rout in France was a victory(Dunkirk)
And both sides used the same type of tank, just different colors(Battle of the Bulge)
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Dag nabbit Paul, you reminded me I'm just a grouchy old guy! How did we manage to win that one? I guess our Korean war era tanks were better than theirs (in WW2)
I coulda sworn my Dad was in WW2 |
Buddy, Paul covered the main part. Slug and I talked about this a long time ago. We're both History Teachers, and the stories about parents (usually Dads) that either try to stump you with silly questions or attempt to involve you in discussions like the "82nd Infantry" are legendary. However, I think the vein runs deeper in today’s society. Madden Videos let you be a football star without ever actually playing a down. That silly Video Guitar Game lets you "play music" without ever developing the callouses. In so many ways members of our society want to "belong" without the work and sweat it involves. Of course, the problem is they are left with only a surface image of the real thing.
Besides the factual material we all read, I trust most of us read historical fiction. W.E.B Griffith, Michner, Vidal, heck I'm a Clive Cussler nut! But, unlike those of us not "history geeks" we enjoy them for the story, not the history.
After so many years of dealing with these pseudo-historians, I've learned to just smile, agree, and change the subject to sports.
Sorry, best I've come up with..we've all felt your pain
