I have chosen to read only the "National Socialism" section of the book on Fascism that I am digging into.  The author makes it quite clear that Marxism and your basic Socialism are clearly not the same as National Socialism.   However, as I read, I keep thinking of how so many people lump Socialism, Fascism, Communism, et al together and act as if they are all the same.  As a high school student, I knew they were not the same but I can't for the life of me remember how I gained that knowledge.  It must have been a combination of school and independent reading.  Now, do the kids today know the differences?  Hardly.  I hear so many adults use the terms interchangeably, and the kids learn from that.  When I talk to friends about a political topic, they wonder how I know.  I show or tell them of the sources, and they are surprised that this information is out there.

So where is this heading?  When I was with family in France, we were all able to have conversations about issues of a social or political nature and no one at the table seemed clueless.  I remember one cousin in particular nodding knowingly and taking part.  She is not yet 20.  Were we all in agreement?  I don't think so.  Did we all have something to contribute to the discussion?  Yes.

I get very frustrated with peers when they make assumptions with nothing concrete to back them up.  It is not a snob thing.  If others in this world can stay well informed, why can't they?  I don't give a crap about the new reality show drivel or what celebrity is in a new scandal.  Sure, there is a role for escapist entertainment, but to what end?  I don't want my students to get stuck in this hole of ignorance.  I wish I could fit in all the educating I want in my classes.  I want to present so much information from all sides, but there just is no simple way to do that.  With my subject matter, there is so much ground I could cover, historically, politically, socially, culturally.  But there is not enough time and not enough interest...

I do keep trying though.  A girl I had many years ago has let me know a couple of times this summer that she wants me to keep on teaching the way I taught her.  She said that my topics and methods helped her learn things others never dared touch.  She has a great deal of respect for me because of that.  It made me feel like I should keep on trying to help my kids be more worldly...