11-27-2008, 09:22 AM
Black Landlord wrote:
I see where you're going but I think you may be projecting your awareness of history and its importance onto americans.
I don't think most americans have a sense that the're missing hundreds or thousands of years in their historical sensibility. You can't miss something you never had.
I'm not from the US so my thoughts were purely from speaking to US citizens. Of course most of those were visitors to Europe and so had seen first hand the ancient buildings and the rituals and traditions that often go back many hundreds of years.
The phrase 'You can't miss something you never had' is one I have often had trouble with. I remember it from school history lessons 45 years ago as being a reason given at the time for plantation owners not freeing slaves. The slaves were 2nd, 3rd or even 4th generation and so had never known freedom. The emancipationists were told that the slaves didn't miss their freedom as they had never had it so would not know what to do with it.
And before you think that I am getting at the USA I will say that I am talking about our UK history. There is some history that I am not happy to have.