Unfortunately many of them do not want to know, because that would mean they have been fooled for most of their lives. I love my parents, but they will believe the Newsweek story because it is in Newsweek. To believe the Pentagon would mean that Newsweek lied and if they lie about Afghanistan, that would mean that they lied about other things. Those "other things" are most of the reasons my parents are Democrats. That is also the "truth" for lots of the pre-boomers.
It sounds like you turned out fine though. :)