Interesting Analysis Of WWI

USA Today profiled Frank Woodruff Buckles, one of only four American WWI veterans alive today. (He's 106).

The article was part profile of Frank, and part analysis of WWI from a historical / sociological /political perspective. 

They quote Harvard historian, Niall Ferguson, "If you want to understand the world of today, don't start at 9/11/2001. You need to go all the way back to August 1914". (When the war began).

The article then goes on to quote a number of different historians about different ways that WWI influenced the world. They make the case that you can say that WWI directly influenced everything from the political reality of today's Middle East to the women rights movement.

My gut feeling is that most Americans know virtually nothing about this war - not that I was all that knowledgeable myself … If you would like to read a thoughtful article about the historical significance of WWI, this is a great place to start.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that it should be required reading (all of about 5 or 10) minutes for every high school student's 20th Century American History class …

Posted by Gregg.

USA Today Article