KaraH -- In Progress
1. I've always liked history, historical fiction being one of my favorite genres for books. Asides from the fascinating time periods and details, I can see just how valuable it is to learn other's mistakes so they won't happen again. For a modern day example, we can look back into the past during the Depression era to try and see what exactly went wrong so it won't happen again with this recession. Whether or not using the past will solve the present, only time will tell, but it can still certainly be useful.
2. I think once we were attacked we had every right to join the war, however if the attack really was known before hand, then it should have been prevented so war wouldn't have to take place at all. Now, as for the timing, I don't think we should have joined sooner. As far as I know England didn't ask for our help, and we might have made it worse by jumping in when we weren't really needed. The Battle of Britian is a good example. There were 7 Americans in the entire battle, and some 100 English fighters. They, and some Polish and Swiss pilots held of the Germans, forcing them to call of their attack. With little help from us at all.