My father grew up in South Bend, Indiana. His father was a professor at Notre Dame and a good friend of Knute Rockne; my dad literally was bounced on Rockne's knee as child. In the 60's and even into the 70's I could tell that story and people didn't have blank expressions on their faces. Nowadays I get nothing but blank stares at the mention of Rockne (whose funeral was broadcast on national radio). But I think that's to be expected. Americans tend to look to the future not the past. We want to believe that the future will be better than even our own most recent past, not to mention our parents' or grandparents'.

I'm sure the curmudgeons among us will want to blame the school system or politicians or parents or somebdy for the sorry state of today's young people and their knowledge of the past. But I've been hearing this lament for 40 years and it's no worse now than it was in 1968. It's just not in our nature for most of us to get caught up in the details of the past. So, sure, we make some mistakes over and over again. But that's not education, that's human nature. There are lots of young people who can make all the connections to Billy Joel's song just as there lots of baby boomers who can't.

If anybody really wants to get me on a soapbox just bring up the subject of the "good 'ol days"... You think dial up Internet was bad? Trying talking to your girlfriend on a party line telephone!