Scott Reynolds wrote:

> >>It occurred to me that you might say he was whitewashing Japan's crimes
> >>in WW2.
> >
> > No, merely that is not interested or may not know a lot.
>
> He certainly knows more ancient history than I do. He tells me new
> things I didn't know almost every day.

Of course a current student may know more in general and ancient history in
particular. But what they hear about WWII may be quite different. I sure know
those JHS kids when I was on the JET Program heard different.

> > And why is your son's lack of interest unfortunate for me?
>
> I was being ironic. You seemed to be implying that a lack of detailed
> knowledge of post-Meiji Japanese history signified an appalling degree
> of intellectual laziness.

Not lack of knowledge, for which the educational system may be responsible.
Lack of interest.

> I was simply pointing out that a 16-year-old
> might not know a lot about modern history but still have an interest in
> history in general.

--
 "I'm on top of the world right now, because everyone's going to know that I
can shove more than three burgers in my mouth!"