Many times we often speak before we think. Then again we also speak before we actually know what we are talking about. However, we are not living in the novel, 1984 by George Orwell, where ignorance is required to stay alive. Whether we educate our students or we educate ourselves, ignorance cannot be the excuse because we didn't know.
Let me explain what I mean. Tomorrow is the day that we observe and celebrate Memorial Day. There are a few that know it's a day to remember the men and women who serve for our country that did not make it home. To others, it is a day off of work, school, planning pool parties or BBQ's, or even spending the day to relax. (However, that's not where the ignorance lies).
What we don't teach is what Memorial Day actually means. My father died in 2012 from Pancreatic and Colon cancer (both were stage 4 -- he didn't have a chance). He served in Vietnam, fought, was shot at, and came home to have a family. He is buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois (a national cemetery for veterans). Even though he is remembered, it is not what memorial day is about. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who are in active service that died to protect our freedoms. Now here is where the ignorance lies..... my father did not die in active service. However, I do remember him for his service on the federal holiday. It does not mean I am ignorant to the holiday (because I know what the day is about). The ignorance is when people don't know what they are talking about and refuse to learn or understand.
This connects with the federal holiday of Veterans Day. You wouldn't believe how many do not know the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. But this brings up the point that we need to be educated. We cannot assume we know the truth (sense social media, news outlet, or word of mouth). The fact is that we tend to think we know what we are talking about when, in reality, there are times that we really don't. Tom Nichols (Death of Expertise) states it best, that Ignorance is a virtue in America. Unfortunately, this is true in many circumstances from educating oneself, to understanding the truth. As educators, we need to make sure that ignorance is not an excuse for not understanding.
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