Enola for DD?

Almost no-one suggested not knowing the name of the plane was important. The incredulity arose when some people said they had never heard of Hiroshima. Itself.
That's like someone living here and now saying they've never come across 9/11. IMHO. And I feel society has failed them and us, not that the individual who doesn't know has in any way failed or should be found wanting.

Being able to name the plane? Good for a pub quiz, not life changing otherwise.

It is objectively important though. It’s not like not knowing about folklore or Egyptians 🙄

Quite ignorant of you to think that everyone thinks the same as you, but then you seem proud of that

yep, @BrazenlyDefying. It's quite scary.

But what's scarier, for me, is the number of people on this thread who have been defensive, even proud of, their ignorance.

"I wasn't taught it in school."
"It's niche."
"I'm too young to know that stuff"... etc ad infinitum

Yes, lots of us don't know things, but surely being open to new learning is important, as is being aware that there are important things we may not know?

As a pp said, you can see how Brexit happened...

Fuck me there are a lot of of people around who don't read, watch documentaries or know much about the world.

So many awful things have happened since, but the horror of these unconscionable weapons is falling out of memory. As teenagers in the eighties we were used to grownups being genuinely fearful of a nuclear war. Only now do I realise how hearing a personal account must have alerted them. PTSD is a kind of group survival mechanism: when traumatised survivors tell their story over and over, then others may listen and make sure it never ever happens again.
I do wonder @sionnachrua is it best to spread out knowledge of terrible things. You may be right. But tbh I want you all to know what happened and why and what happened since as a result.

As in have a general knowledge of history? Yes. I'd hope people would tbh, I'm very surprised that people haven't heard of Hiroshima at all. However I wouldn't class the name of the plane that dropped the bomb as being absolutely key knowledge.

However when you look at modern history you'd have to wonder how much people really apply knowledge from events like the Holocaust or Hiroshima to our own lives...I know a Holocaust survivor who is very saddened by how little people have learned from it all. But that is a whole other thread on a whole other topic!

However I don't think the song has lasting impact

It's not about the song! 🤦🏻‍♀️

@theradioison i just now had to look up the name of the plane that carried the bomb to Nagasaki. A relative was a POW there so we learned about the atomic bomb at family gatherings. The significance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not merely the terrible loss of life - the tens of thousands killed. Dreadful things happen in war. The reason everyone does need to know is that those tens of thousands were killed instantly. The discussion around the way the bombs were used. The behaviour and decision chain that led to Nagasaki being bombed just 3 days after Hiroshima. This is what you need to know. The pilot writing his mum's name on the nose of the plane is a distracting sentimental detail. The three sets of monitoring equipment that was dropped before Fat Man was detonated is way more chilling.
So many awful things have happened since, but the horror of these unconscionable weapons is falling out of memory. As teenagers in the eighties we were used to grownups being genuinely fearful of a nuclear war. Only now do I realise how hearing a personal account must have alerted them. PTSD is a kind of group survival mechanism: when traumatised survivors tell their story over and over, then others may listen and make sure it never ever happens again.
I do wonder @sionnachrua is it best to spread out knowledge of terrible things. You may be right. But tbh I want you all to know what happened and why and what happened since as a result.

Yes and to honest I find it pretty offensive that @NiceGerbil seems to be assuming those of us saying Hiroshima is important might be blind to the importance of other world events.

The song isn't that important, the event obviously is.

What you seem to be failing to understand is that it isn't about the song itself.

Yes but this isn’t “niche” 🙄 is it? It’s arguably the defining event of the modern world that affects policy today.

Not that important??

You want your DD to be forever associated with the name of the plane that dropped the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Reallt??

Wow

Another one lacking reading comprehension skills I see. The song isn't that important, the event obviously is.

As an aside, I can't see why people are so surprised that others might not read up on a particular event. I love learning about ancient civilizations and rulers - Benin kingdom, Mansa Musa etc. Explorers and world folklore too. World wars aren't my thing but I don't expect everyone else to be interested in my favourite parts of history. There's so much history out there, everyone will have their niche.

Just needed to know the name of the plane that dropped the second bomb on Nagasaki, it was Bockscar, how interesting that so many of us know the name Enola Gay is synonymous with Hiroshima and yet not the second one? They're both on display in the States now.

I had to look up the third English speaking country involved in the Vietnam War, New Zealand but 'only' 37 deaths.

This is such an interesting thread, not probably how the OP intended it to play out and doubtless she won't be calling her offspring Enola any time soon I hope.

What intrigued me most was the defence that posters didn't learn about it in history at school? I didn't either, it was all Spinning Jenny's and Tolpuddle Martyrs when I was there but I've learnt SO much more since I left school, probably 90% of my knowledge since then. I did know about Enola Gay/Little Boy and Fat man though but ok the plane and bomb names aside, I cannot fathom how anyone wouldn't know, even by accident, about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Forget the recent coverage of the anniversary, it has to be the most stand out atrocity ever committed - as one poster said, it's off the scale. I do find it shocking that someone in their 20s/30s could go through their life oblivious to its happening.

Anyway, if it's made even a couple of posters go and research then that's a good thing.

As to the Vietnam War, I went to the 'American' museum in Saigon and found it utterly shocking, it almost destroys you to see what people can do to each other it really does.

Long live learning I say 😊

bellinisurge

2/3 well done, not many people know it wasn't just the US and Vietnam when there were numerous countries involved.

Shhh - US and Australia. Sadly don't know the third without google

You want your DD to be forever associated with the name of the plane that dropped the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Reallt??

Wow

Everyone has gaps in their knowledge as can be seen on the multiple, 'Things I just learned' threads.

Just as a matter of interest, without googling name three English speaking countries involved in the Vietnam war.

The war ended in 1975, so those of us 50+ should have an idea.

I know about key moments in our history too. I know about Hiroshima. Just not the name of the plane. Why should I be embarrassed about that if you aren't embarrassed about things you don't know?

Why should I be embarrassed? Are you embarrassed about all the things you don't know about, and I possibly do? Nobody can possibly know everything!

@TheFormerPorpentinaScamander

No I dont need to be embarrassed about things that you "may" know that I dont. No I dont know anything about astrophysics, but I certainly know about key moments in our history...either from school or via books.