Actually, it was the survey last week. I asked people do you get Monday off? They mostly said yes. I then asked why? I would say about 80% knew it was MLKJr. Day. Then I would ask, who was Martin Luther. Though some would say the Lutheran founder, most would say something along the lines of the civil rights leader. I would then tell them I was asking about Martin Luther King, Jr., but Martin Luther. A few had not at first been paying attention and corrected themselves.
The great majority had no idea. Now these were not janitorial staff. They were anything from an IT guy to finance pros to grant writers. Many were the type Mr. Lander writes about at SWPL.
Several years ago, my sister was at a function for staff at the bank she works at. All attending were above her and high up on the chain of command. They did a trivia game. Everyone knew the popular culture questions. Then they asked questions like what happened in 1066. When my baby sister said the Battle of Hastings, one of the mucky mucks said disdainfully, "I bet you're good at trivial pursuit." Herself was smart enough to hold her peace, but I know she does not think such ignorance is good for the body politic among people who have so much money.
So for all of you who think we don't let children vote, here are again the words of the old Marcus Tullius,
“To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to be ever a child. For what is man's lifetime unless the memory of past events is woven with those of earlier times?”
For the record, the person who knew the most about Martin Luther was a mixed race fellow.
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3 comments:
I just asked my 10 year old daughter this question. She said, "The dude who got angry with the Catholic church and nailed a list of complaints to the church door."
Her twin brother said, "Oh, I would have thought you meant Martin Luther King Jr.'s dad." :)
There is a reason I asked my daughter first.
Oh, but I still don't think she should vote.
Well, yer majesty, you have a sharp wee daughter there.
The twin's answer was actually more perceptive than most of the people I meet.
I would not worry about her voting as there are so many men as well as women who don't have a clue. Also, even in Boston or Chicago, it is difficult for a ten year old to vote.
At my papist grammar school in the stone age, the average answer would have been something like the heretic who ruined Europe.
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