They say "Those who fail to study history are condemned to repeat it" Or rather George Santayana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." and plenty of folk expound upon it.
We spend a lot of time talking about politics when we read history. I want the kids to understand the political bias of a history, as well as some of the thoughts and feelings that encouraged folk to act in the way they did.
When the kids start to glaze over we ease up, but it has been interesting to see how much more Dude understands as he grows older (and more importantly more experienced). The more we read, the more we learn, the more we can understand the why in addition to the what of history.
Though at all times we are only human, and certainly not time traveling mind readers!
Sometimes I wonder if humans can ever as a whole become accepting and patient with one another. History is constantly a list of actions caused by fears (from anything new, religion, technology, or philosophy) superstitions (killing the cats during the Plague - cats kill the rats that harbor the fleas!) or a desire to 'take over the world'! (I hope at least one of you read that in the voice of the Brain from Pinky and the Brain)
Really, fear and greed. Seems grand events only happen when those two forces get working together.
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