Posted on 11/24/2004 9:01:22 PM PST by JustaCowgirl
CBN News) – WASHINGTON – About half of high school students lack a basic knowledge of American history according to a 2001 Education Department study.
That education gap is driving the nation's second lady to pass on the country's historical record to the next generation.
CBN News sat down for an exclusive interview with Lynne Cheney to discuss her latest campaign. Lynne Cheney kicks off the holidays by topping the national Christmas tree. But the passion of the nation's second lady is American history, and her desire to inspire young patriots through revolutionary tales.
Cheney's just-released children's book is her third, When Washington Crossed the Delaware. It recounts America's struggle for independence on a cold Christmas night in 1776.
"We were losing the war, you know," Cheney said. "The British had pushed us clear out of New York, all the way across New Jersey. We fled across the Delaware River. The men had no shoes. They had no winter clothes. And Washington, under those circumstances, did a pretty bold thing. He decided to attack."
"We won the battle at Trenton against the Hessians, and then he decided to go on and attack the British again at Princeton. It was remarkable, but he changed the course of history and lifted the spirits of everyone."
Cheney says century-old stories have relevance for today's children. "The story of our nation is made up of stories of so many widely varied localities across the country. So, if everyone would take the children in the family over the holiday weekend to a historical site nearby, it would do a great deal to raise the level of historical awareness."
And she draws parallels from the founding fathers to the current Commander-in-Chief. "I think it's important for all of us to understand that freedom isn't inevitable,” said Cheney, “that in the beginning it had to be fought for. And we're still defending it today as we watch brave men and women fight in Afghanistan and Iraq."
The book's closing words speak of Washington and his men: "Standing with the country in a time of crisis, fighting on when conflict was hard."
Cheney was asked, when she penned those words, was she thinking of America today and the war on terror?
"Well, sure, that always lingers in mind. But I was also thinking of what amazing lessons these are to hold out to children -- that you don't quit when things are hard. You keep going even when it is tough to keep going ... And sometimes, the sweetest victories come about because you took on such a tall mountain to climb -- you accomplish a hard task."
Cheney recently had the task of hitting the campaign trail with the vice president. Across the country, she heard parents' concerns about the coarsening of culture, and critics’ complaints about all that is wrong with America.
"There's a lot of negative cast thrown at our country,” said Cheney, “the Michael Moore films, for example, and I found myself worrying, during the course of the campaign, that this would have an impact -- that people would really believe this is not a great nation. But you know, the American people are incredibly smart, and it was very heartening to see so many reject that way of thinking."
"There's also just a remarkable faith in the greatness of America, and in our ability to overcome in the challenges we face now -- for example, in the war on terror. There is a great pride that exists everywhere in being American -- a great realization of how lucky we are to live at this particular moment in history."
Cheney's own history with the vice president dates back to Casper, Wyoming, when Dick Cheney was just 14.
"I've known him,” said Cheney, “since he was building power lines across the West to pay his way through college."
But his recent hospital visit set off a powder keg of concerns. CBN News commented to Cheney that, "There are some critics who came out and said at that point that your husband should step down because of health reasons."
Cheney replied, “Oh really?”
And when asked what she would say to those people about her husband's health now, she responded, “I would say he had a cold, and he's doing very well. Thank you for asking."
The vice president appeared in good spirits at the White House when he attended the President's pardon of "Giblet," the Thanksgiving turkey. That was not an event likely to be repeated this year among the Cheney clan.
Mrs. Cheney was also asked about whether this Thanksgiving was special to her in any way.
"I think when we have people fighting for our country, there's a special prayer we need to all say to protect those brave men and women ... to see forward to the cause they're fighting for. It's not just Americans on the one side and someone else on the other side. We really do represent freedom to millions of people around the world. And the success of those fighting men and women will have consequence for millions of people beyond our shores -- as well as for us, because they're making us safer."
President Bush has requested $100 million to promote the study of American history through a government program called "We, the People." For more information on that program, contact the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Order your copy of When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynne Cheney.
Excellent thoughts for today.
I think we saw on Nov. 2 what the will of the people can do. Let us be especially thankful for that today, and determined, as you say, to overcome.
I intend to send up in my Thanksgiving prayer that the will of the people will prevail in the Ukraine. That would be a good prayer for many Americans to pray today, I think.
Excellent suggestion. I know that the ordinary folk in Russia and the Ukraine hold the ordinary folk here in high regard. I will pray that their prayers be heard.
Quick fact check, the pardoned turkey's name was Biscuits, the standby turkey was Gravy.
Thanks Gretchen has already gone to bed but saw your ping first thing this morning when I logged on.
**Lynne has written several childrens books on American History. She and Dick together wrote a book profiling (I think) historical events and members of the Senate. Don't hold me to that, but that's close. It seems that the title was Profiles in Power, something like that. **
I believe the book you are thinking of is Kings of Hill in which she and Dick write about several Congressman over the years the most current of which is Newt.
It is a good book and as an English person gave me fair bit of background info I think I picked it up second hand either through Amazon or ebay.
**Not the most important woman, that would go to Dr. Rice, but the most important public voice. That explains why the left really tries so hard to tear her down and destroy her credibility. She's like Condoleeza Rice, her very existence and point of view is a threat to the view of reality they want to promote.
I really believe Liz Cheney is cut from the same bolt of cloth, and has an important public life ahead of her at some time in the future if she wants it. **
Great minds think a like. As I am sure you are aware I said it several times during the election campaign that towards the end Lynne was getting more and more vocal and the left were getting more and upset with Cheney but when you actually studied what they were upset with a lot of the times is was comments from Lynne such as the sensitve war "the terrorists would not be impressed with our softer side" etc.
She is great and also a very attractive woman which must make the left even madder because if you look at the women who have been promient over the years from their side they most certainly have not been attractive.
I also agree with your comments on Liz.
Maybe the writer was referring to last year's pardoned turkey. ??
I don't get it.
You're right. I believe Giblet was last year's turkey, the one that carried out the cowardly sneak attack on the private Presidential person.
Giblet probably was in some danger of becoming the first turkey to have his Presidential pardon rescinded. I noticed that Biscuits had his neck VERY firmly held by the President throughout, undoubtedly to prevent any repeat of the surprise attack.
Thanks for the info, snugs. I have been thinking I should get the book and read it.
Hope your hospital visit went okay, and all is well on your side.
I had a little trouble trying to figure out what she meant in that paragraph, too. That looks like a paragraph where some editor took something out to meet space requirements, and wound up removing all sense from the paragraph.
I decided she just meant that normally they eat their turkeys rather than pardon them. I don't think there was any ill intent.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.