where have all the history classes gone?

It’s been a while since my last history class. Actually, my idea of "History" is the 1995 Michael Jackson CD.

I was an English/Journalism/Communications major, so anything that had to do with any civil wars, presidents or any "act" ever created was (and is) out of the question.

In other words, I am knowledgeable in a variety of areas: writing, knitting, being funny…but when I am not well educated in a subject, I do my best to avoid it.

Which brings me to my next question. I realize I’m about to propel myself into some serious unknown territory, but I’m about to do so and with some force.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE HISTORY CLASSES GONE?

Case in point: Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann.

Girlfriends! We know it's not your fault that Paul Revere didn't actually warn the British and John Wayne isn't from Waterloo. It's just that history classes, like your political strategies, are hard to find.

Many politicians and presidents have made historical or political gaffes over the years: Obama and Bush, Republican and Democrat; these blunders don’t discriminate against party or gender. We, as American people, all must understand that sometimes we are humans and we just f%^* up.

However, without pointing fingers at a specific party, belief or gender: why is it that the people who are persistantly perusing political positions are not better educated about our history?

The Los Angeles Times Opinion Staff believes, "I'd be happier if pundits made more of a fuss about (their) outright falsehoods, which are plentiful, than a few mistakes, which are common for just about anybody who does much public speaking."

The Hill, focusing on the Captial Hill scene, recently featured an article on "Politicians rewriting the past to suit their present" in which, American Historical Association Executive Director, Jim Grossman simply said, "If you're going to invoke the past, you've got to get it right."

Grossman continued by saying, "A democracy is dependent on an educated electorate. Second of all, if we’re going to have an economy that works at all, it has to be based on people who make financial and business decisions based on facts.”

But some will say every interpretation of history is different.

Either way, shouldn't our politicians be knowledgeable in American history? The USCIS administers a test to all immigrants applying for citizenship which includes 100 questions about our Country's history. What about our youth? What kind of examples are these people setting, not only for our Country's youth, but how they represent themselves amongst other countries?

So to all the politicians out there, I know it's not your fault! It's been a while since your last history class, too! And you're all too busy fixing our economy and our housing market and our unemployment rates!

So after all that, I am going to stick to what I know: baking, literature, good fabric softener and kittens. And I leave you with this last thought: If we're forcing immigrants and youth to know the facts, don’t you think as a chosen representative of the United States of America, you should KIND of know the facts too?
 Check out these top 10 political gaffes through the years.

*My apologizes that today's sunnyside is more like scrambled eggs instead!