A term coined by Gore Vidal, 'United States of Amnesia' simply says that the US seems to forget about history's lessons. Which goes on to predict that we are doomed to repeat the past's failures (think the fall of Rome).
2007-02-21 05:32:10 · 6 answers · asked by Michael K 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
absolutely; Americans so quickly forget about the very very recent past as well as the distant past. It hasnt been long since Iran Contra, nor very long since the first Iraq invasion and here we are with the current mess in Iraq.
Taking the longer view that is intimated in the question.. The British Empire collapsed in part due to the switch to the dollar based world economy; the american empire will likely collapse under the weight of its debt and failure to maintain hegemony over resources.
2007-02-21 08:03:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, why do you think it's only United States of America and it's citizens forget to learn from history. People from all over the world make students learn history to write down the dates, remember the wars, places and stuff and then forget. The main reason why history was introduced into schooling has been forgotten. People don't even learn from their own past mistakes- why ask about historical events like the fall of Rome? JFK didn't learn from the historical assasination of Abraham Lincoln, did he? or he would have arranged more security.
2007-02-21 05:42:31 · answer #2 · answered by Volvogirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hehe, never heard it put that way, but I have to agree.
Heck, we didn't even look as close back as McCarthyism when we decided (as a government, not as a people) that the Patriot Act was a good idea. You think they'd look back to Rome?
Remember Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Hitler would have done well to read that as well, and we would do well to learn from his, Napolean Bonapart's, and Rome's mistakes.
2007-02-21 05:40:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
WE DNT FORGET ABOUT HISTORY LESSON'S THEY JUST GO THROUGH ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER BECUZ IT'S THE MOST BORING SUBJECT IN SCHOOL *YAWN* only a few things stay in the brain
2007-02-21 05:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your right, and the bit they do remember is never acurate,its made up!
2007-02-21 09:08:04 · answer #5 · answered by Countess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And the question is...
or did you forget (guffaw!)
2007-02-21 05:36:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋