Verdun

harasha

David Brooks, conservative columnist for the New York Times, startled many people this week by referencing the Siege of Verdun, a somewhat epic event from World War I. I suspect that the great majority of readers had no idea about what he was talking. Those who did understand the reference, as I suspect many on this Forum do, were puzzled that a contemporary writer would reference an event that only historians or other history buffs would understand. Go figure. Anyway, it did motivate me to capture another image on my so far under-utilized new camera.

Verdun Obv
Verdun Rev

cacheman

...and the German point of view.

sumnom

<< <i>David Brooks, conservative columnist for the New York Times, startled many people this week by referencing the Siege of Verdun, a somewhat epic event from World War I. I suspect that the great majority of readers had no idea about what he was talking. Those who did understand the reference, as I suspect many on this Forum do, were puzzled that a contemporary writer would reference an event that only historians or other history buffs would understand. Go figure. Anyway, it did motivate me to capture another image on my so far under-utilized new camera. >>



Who would be "startled" by such a reference? I don't think it so obscure.

On the other hand, I was teaching a history course last fall to mostly university juniors and seniors. In one lecture I asked students to name some important events in world history in 1917/1918. No one could come up with anything.

We live in a fallen age.

sumnom

I googled David Brooks and Verdun and indeed found people complaining that everyone who remembers Verdun died thirty years ago.

We are worse off than I thought.