Sad state of (historical) affairs

Look, I know there are many people who don't like history, who think it's boring, and useless, and doesn't apply to their life in any practical way. I'm also aware of the abyssmal rise in calls for the removal of Social Studies from school curriculums in Canada. And let me tell you why this is all wrong. Well, aside from the old adage 'those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, there is a more...significant reason for why this is wrong: simply put, imagine generations of people, looking stupid. Yes, I mean it. Stupid. And we all know what fondness I have for stupid people.

So what prompted this? Well, on the Yahoo Canada front page, I found this. There are of course little things that can slide, maybe some people mixed up fictional characters or legends with those who created or propogated them. But seriously??? 23% of Britons actually think that Winston Churchill was not real? One of Britain's most influential forces (yes, he was more than a man, he was a force to be reckoned with) that shaped a nation under duress...is a myth?

Gandhi is a myth?? WTF??!?!?

There could be an argument of semantics made that Churchill and Gandhi have been elevated to mythical status as they grew in history, but fictional? Holy Stupid People Batman! I mean no disrespect to all British people, obviously only a significant portion of 3000 Brits qualify for this particular scathing attack. But I guess I can't believe that things have regressed to this point.

Stupid. It's not just for George W. Bush anymore. *sigh*