Dear editor,
I read a second time the column The Register ran a few days ago about the de-emphasis of civics education in public schools. It struck a sour note.
I am in the midst of the second volume of “The War of the Revolution” written by Christopher Ward, an early 1900s historian — among other pursuits. The two volumes set forth a chronological treatment of the war and is the most illuminating and compelling I have ever read, better than the history texts I was exposed to in high school and college that gave bits and pieces but not the rest of the story, even to the point of condemning some of Washington’s decisions.
If everyone — impossible I know — were to read the better than 900 pages of the exceptionally well-written account of how we won our independence, I think today’s attitudes would be much different, and improved in kindness and consideration. The early patriots often fought in nearly overwhelming odds against veteran soldiers from England and German mercenaries who were well-trained, as well as home-grown Tories. Even so, some barefoot and none outfitted in state-of-the-art equipment and weapons, they badgered and harassed the enemy until finally becoming a well-defined army and ending the war when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
I know I am a bibliophile, but if all who profess to be patriots, in the right sense of the word, took time from the drivel on TV to read how America came to be from any reliable source, I think today’s world on this side of the pond would be much better. The rest of the world, as well.
Bob Johnson,
Humboldt, Kan.
