This can be a tough question for any historian - professional or not. Many within the history community, professional historians and history buffs alike, inwardly cringe hearing the question "Why history?" And, let's be honest, some of us may outwardly cringe.
"Cringe" may be a strong word, but it's apt given the frustrations many historians have revolving around this question.
So . . . why does this question bug us so much?
One of the main reasons, in my own experiences, is the fact that this question is very generic and basic. It's almost painfully generic, and it can be applied to any other profession you can think of. "Why art?" "Why bank?" "Why film?" "Why write?" "Why cover the news?" Yet, despite the generic status of this question, historians seem to get asked "Why history?" all the time.
This question is understandable, though. Many of the people asking the question see history as "boring" or "unimportant." I think that the answer to the question is just as understandable. We, as historians, understand the value, importance, and fun surrounding history.
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