Lessons from 70 years ago

Gazette Editorial Board

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Seventy years ago today, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor spurred our nation to enter the Second World War. The surprise assault from the skies led to about 2,400 military personnel and civilians losing their lives, as well as severe damage to our Pacific fleet and many aircraft.

World War II proved to be America's greatest test for protecting freedom. When victory finally was at hand, President Roosevelt and other U.S. leaders lectured on its implications and warned against future complacency.

Seven decades after Pearl Harbor, the lessons learned and sacrifices made by that generation of Americans are no less significant. But time and a population that evolves technologically and socially at an increasingly fast rate appear to be eroding our collective knowledge and awareness.

Daniel Burnett of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a non-profit dedicated to academic excellence, cites a recent study of college seniors from elite U.S. universities. The results are not encouraging. One-third of those seniors couldn't identify our three primary World War II enemies, Germany, Italy and Japan. Nearly two-thirds did not know the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler's last major offensive against the Allies, occurred in that war.

Burnett's organization also promotes the idea that universities and colleges should require foundational courses in seven areas: English composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. history or government, math, science, economics. Its survey (at www.whatwilltheylearn.com) of 1,000 institutions found that most do not. For example, 80 percent do not require such a course in American history. None of Iowa's three public universities requires more than four of those foundational courses.

Yes, it's a different world today than in 1941. Technology has produced many new wonderful learning and work tools. But if our children don't know and understand the pivotal moments of our past, will they have the kind of tools that a free and open society requires?

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