We cannot stand idly by watching our nation, and what it represents, collapse from within through the destruction of our history and heritage.
Awhile back, I came across an interesting, and disturbing, article written by the personal physician to the late David McCullough, a noted historian and author. The article was entitled, “What’s Keeping David McCullough from Sleeping.”
McCullough was the award-winning author of books on Harry S. Truman, John Adams, the building of the Panama Canal, and many other historical leaders and events. He was the recipient of several of the top English-language literature awards, including the Pulitzer Prize (twice) and the National Book Award, and also the National Medal of Freedom.
Then in his 80s, McCullough came to his doctor complaining of insomnia, a common issue with people in his age group. When his physician asked McCullough what was keeping him up at night, he responded, “I have to tell you—part of it is worrying about what is happening in our country.”
Writing about the conversation, his physician says, “Every day, as [McCullough] reads the papers, it seems as if leaders are taking positions based on politics—and have forgotten about history. They are unaware of the past, and uninterested in how they will be remembered in the future.”
This should be keeping us all up at night. This disregard of history from the leading voices of our time is the result of decades of neglect of history and civics at all levels of our educational system.