I think you have a point. Compare the amount an American student learns about WWII to what he/she learns of WWI, even. America didn't come soaring in to save the day and become everyone's all-time heroes in WWI, so, at least in my experience, it's kind of glossed over. I can remember a teacher specifically saying that at the time, it was called "The Great War," but that, looking back, it was not so bad compared to WWII. I no longer believe that. Death tolls were huge and deaths were grisly; there just weren't as many Americans involved.
On the converse, I've met a good number of Europeans whose knowledge of Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and even Columbus is limited compared to mine. Granted, that's also true for many Americans, but most of what I know of those guys, except maybe Franklin, is what I learned in school.
I don't have the same feelings on history, I love learning about it, but I can see your point of view. And I think, despite the occasional indignant puffery, the majority think the same way. There are countries all over the world whose young population has chosen largely to move forward and embrace "progress"- even a little materialism- instead of apprehending the criminals among them, whose victims are still quite alive. The future always trumps the past, it seems. Maybe that's why the human race still exists.
On the other hand Germany has had to address its history pretty directly, and has done a stunning job of it. Both privately and publicly. And who knows, but I daresay their society has benefited from it.
I would also say that not dealing with these things, especially as they get further and further in the past, is inviting them to happen again. Period. Explain it how you want, point out all the other things we could be doing with our time and money, doesn't matter: if crimes aren't punished, they continue to happen. Sadly, though, I believe crimes like this will always happen, whether they are punished or not.
