Grave question to the Americans

[CD Light]

That's a nice story, BlueMonday. It just goes to show how just one city in the whole big country can have an interesting story, and that therefore it is impossible to ever know enough about geography.

Which brings me in to my point: I live in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. I just put down Wisconsin, USA for my location because people from other countries (excluding possibly some Canadians, we're right on the border with them) will have a lot of trouble remembering where Wisconsin, not a particularly famous state of the 50, is on a map, let alone its capitol Madison. I don't have that much evidence for this except that I once mentioned Wisconsin to some New Zealanders (not that I'm trying to generalize about New Zealanders, these people are just an example), and they replied with "Where the hell is that?" I don't blame them. Anyway, I included USA in my location because I browsed the forum for a few days before joining and saw a lot of people from other countries here, and thought I should clarify my relatively obscure location.

 

[IceBlaZe]

Every Empire had its sure, or unsure reason for its collapse.
The romans had their orgies and corruption.
The french (napoleaon) invaded russia, so did hitler.
The japanese attacked the USA.

And USA... what will it have?
Ill go for lack of geography knowledge. im surprised they even knew where afghanistan is
the next military secretary will probably bomb the wrong place.. and in a few years the entire nation will go insane because all of USA has 50 places named after one place and every man looking for a city will come up with 50 one another in his computerized electronicized futuristic computer database. that will make the computer go insane and unfortunately will make the person who asked for the city info inside his head die slowly out of agony of too much geographical overlaps of names.

[edit]
Just watch out from the mighty pretzels!

 

[CD Light]

Sigh.............I guess it's come to this..........any old person can diss the good ol' U.S. of A without worrying about us bombing the **** out of them. Maybe we should bring in some FOREIGN consultants to help the Department of Defense figure out how to read these map thingies! Soon as we do that, IceBlaZe, you'd better hide your location!

 

[Franklyn]

I use "Old North State" as my location to throw all those bill collectors off my tail ...
Seriously, I don't put my city name in my location tag simply because, even though it's a decent-sized locale, most folks outside the state aren't that familiar with it.
And the Old North State? Anyone care to guess?
The fate of American geographic prowess hangs in the balance ...

 

[MCdread]

Originally posted by allhailIndia
It just proves my point that Americans know little about a country till an American gets blown to pieces there. Only then can they place it on a map. Of course this only for the majority of non-civfanatics in the US, I feel that most American Civfanatics have a decent knowledge of geography(that's what happens if you play a lot on the world map

So, tell me, how many Indians knew that particular country before that? I really doubt that the average Indian has a deeper geographical knowledge than the average american. BlueMonday is not far from the truth when pointing out that the knowledge of the average citizen about the rest of the world and about other cultures is not that different from country to country.

However, I do think that there are places in the US, particulary in the inner country, where that may not be more evident evident. But for me, the most important aspect about this subject lies in the higher circles. Two examples:

- last year I read an article about the director of a jail in Texas, which was the one where more executions were held. This guy seemed to be an educated man, being a doctor of Laws. Troughout the interview, I got the idea that he thought a lot about his job and the moral implications of it, and was willing to discuss it from a philosophical approach. Nothing like in the films of Stallone. The interview was carried by europeans, and suddenly he asks the reporter what was the situation of death penalty in Europe. I mean, the guy didn't know what was the policy of the EU towards death penalty. When the journalist told him that the abolition of it was a sine qua non condition to enter the EU he whispered "Really?" I thought "Damn, this educated guy, by no means a dumb, does not know that, holding the job he does!"

- Even more intriguing: I read somewhere (many times actually), that an incredible large number of the US senators and congressmen (I can't remember, but something like 2/3 or more) didn't have any passport and had never travelled to any foreign country. Actually, I now remember that appart from a few trips to Mexico (as governor of Texas) and one to Europe in one of his father's trips, Bush had never travelled outside the US.
This is the important issue IMHO, not that the average american lacks the knowledge of the world around (sadly, it's the same everywhere), but that the guys on the top don't seem to be much better than the rest of the population. Fortunatelly for G. Bush, that does not seems to be the case within his staff, despite the recent nonsense about the Axis of Evil.

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by Blackadder
America, as a dual continent, often has/had a policy of isolationism. You guys have an excuse, we don't .

Sure you have, don't you live on an island?

Originally posted by MCdread
This is the important issue IMHO, not that the average american lacks the knowledge of the world around (sadly, it's the same everywhere), but that the guys on the top don't seem to be much better than the rest of the population. Fortunatelly for G. Bush, that does not seems to be the case within his staff, despite the recent nonsense about the Axis of Evil.

Good point. I don't know how much knowledge about the world the American politicians have compared to other countries. But if it is true, it would definetely have to be changed, at least representatives/senators and of course cabinet members simply should have some above-average knowledge about that.

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by Franklyn
And the Old North State? Anyone care to guess?

Uhm... NORTH Carolina perhaps? I'm not sure about state nicknames.
We're called the Sunshine state... good reason too

As far as Senators & Representatives international knowledge... that really was never ment to be their forte. Constitutionally and traditionally foreign policy has been handled by the Executive with limited Congressional oversight and approval.

 

[Alcibiaties of Athenae]

Lot's of good stuff, and I think we may have cleared that silly problem with generalizations, such as "You americans" and such.

Just so Floppa can sleep tonight, Five points, the original in the USA, is a tiny aera in Chinatown, on Manhatten island, in good old New York City.

It's mentioned in the movie "The Sting", and was a major immigrant aera in the 19th century.

See? Knowledge is subjective, just because some people may not know where Addis Ababa is, or some other place, dosen't mean they know no geography.

I could ask another, and I bet few know where it is:
Tenagra, and no, it's not in the USA or the Western Hemisphere.

 

[CD Light]

Originally posted by Greadius

We're called the Sunshine state... good reason too

You know what? Florida, despite being the Sunshine State, has the most thunderstorms of any state in the Union. I got out of the seventh grade school geography bee on that question. There, you see what we Americans have to know? It ain't easy to know things in a country with fifty freakin' states.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

What a moronic thread...alot of people using atlases I'm sure!

I find it amusing that people from countries that have invented "****-all" rant about the ignorance of a country that produces by far and away the most research papers and is a pioneer of science. Though admittedly they benefit from British (and other) scientists attracted by the lure of money and jobs!

AllHailIndia says he is from India...well that is a country re-known for the general high quality of education and knowledge throughout all echelons of society...so well done there


Where is Afghanistan..."oh don't tell me, it is one of those loser countries in Central Asia"

Correct...and for a bonus question how many of them can spot America on a world map...well maybe if any of them could read they could tell us.

 

[CD Light]

Exactly what I was going to say (or post, whatever), kittenOFchaos. If a person turns behind America's back to make snide comments about the education level of its citizens, that person cannot see the outpouring of scientific advances from America. And even if the advances were made by naturalized citizens, if smart people move to a country by choice, what does that say about that country?

 

[allhailIndia]

Originally posted by MCdread


So, tell me, how many Indians knew that particular country before that

Well have you heard of NRI's or Non Residential Indians. With every other Indian hoping to be one of these, you bet they know something of where they are going to be NRI's

 

[CornMaster]

A little late into the discussion...but I put US in my location field.

And I know a fair bit about geography......although...I'm Canadian. So maybe that explains it.

Contaray to popular US opinion (when my mother went to school that is), we don't all live in Igloo's with polar bear pets. We have cars....and houses....and grass.

While that generalization being taught in schools....is old. The guy we live with still believes it. And doesn't believe when we show pictures of grass and trees. He thinks we got them from else where...I mean come on!!!

So the US doesn't know much about the outside world is based in some reality....but that is fading. And anyone under 50 should be able to point out the US on a map. And over 5 for that matter.

What pissed me off was when people couldn't tell what flag I was carrying on day. IT THE CANADIAN FLAG YOU MORONS!!!

Their closet neighboors and they have no idea what our flag looks like...anyway...that's a different topic.

 

[allhailIndia]

.

Originally posted by kittenOFchaos

AllHailIndia says he is from India...well that is a country re-known for the general high quality of education and knowledge throughout all echelons of society...so well done there

Sarcasm duly accepted and noted
My point was that educated people in the US are making these, er, mistakes while atleast the educate dpeople in India know a bit more about other nations.

P.S.Read somewhere that educated Indians are stealing jobs in the UK. What a miracle considering the esteemed British educational system

 

[jkharvey]

I know I'm going to step on some toes with this one, but here goes.

I grew up in the High Plains of the U.S. Were were taught a very strong core of Social Studies and Geography. At one time I had every country and it's capital, outside of africa memorized, and many african countries as well. With so little going on in our own locale we were very interested in the rest of the world and country.

Compare that with southern California. Many people there think the world starts and stops with Los Angeles and don't care about the outside world. Ever watch Jay Leno question people on the street?

I have experienced this first hand when traveling to other places.

"Where are you from?"

"Nebraska."

"Do you live in a corn field?"

Sadly that is an all to common (and serious) response.

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by CD Light
You know what? Florida, despite being the Sunshine State, has the most thunderstorms of any state in the Union. I got out of the seventh grade school geography bee on that question.

I was born in Brevard County, which is the lightning capital of the world; that is, it has the most annual per capita deaths from lightning in the world.
About once a month someone would die, and it would always make the front page of the paper where there would be a story telling us that. If Cape Canaveral wasn't there, it would be the only source of pride in that God forsaken place

Originally posted by jkharvey
Ever watch Jay Leno question people on the street?

My friend was stopped by the Jay Leno street people once! He had to sign some form so they could use it if they wanted, and he had to identify the pictures of a few political leaders he knew. He didn't make it on TV.

 

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by allhailIndia
P.S.Read somewhere that educated Indians are stealing jobs in the UK. What a miracle considering the esteemed British educational system

I think you'll find that these people are British-educated NRIs as you call them. It is true that many recently-qualified doctors are from families originating in Southern Asia, but if you really wanted to make this point better then you say that Britain has recently begun to import nurses from Thailand to work in its hospitals. Although we can offer the finest training for doctors and nurses, and indeed many other fields of expertise, and our educational system is rightly esteemed, we have trouble getting British nationals to fill these places at our universities. I have absolutely no problem with this - we should welcome people to come here if they are prepared to pull their weight. Our international standing would be much lower if many years ago we had implemented some kind of Aryan policy to ensure that British people were given education and jobs and that immigrants were refused entry. We need the influx of immigrants to keep Britain at the forefront of the global community.

 

[MCdread]

Originally posted by CD Light
if smart people move to a country by choice, what does that say about that country?

It says that they pay good wages there.

 

[BlueMonday]

Originally posted by jkharvey
Compare that with southern California. Many people there think the world starts and stops with Los Angeles and don't care about the outside world. Ever watch Jay Leno question people on the street?

Jay Leno and his minions interview hundreds of people on the street asking the same questions and how many make it to the TV? The five or six dumbest.

 

[knowltok2]

Originally posted by CornMaster
Contaray to popular US opinion (when my mother went to school that is), we don't all live in Igloo's with polar bear pets. We have cars....and houses....and grass.

While that generalization being taught in schools....is old. The guy we live with still believes it. And doesn't believe when we show pictures of grass and trees. He thinks we got them from else where...I mean come on!!!

So the US doesn't know much about the outside world is based in some reality....but that is fading. And anyone under 50 should be able to point out the US on a map. And over 5 for that matter.

What pissed me off was when people couldn't tell what flag I was carrying on day. IT THE CANADIAN FLAG YOU MORONS!!!

Their closet neighboors and they have no idea what our flag looks like...anyway...that's a different topic.

You are basing your arguement on the guy you live with? Admittedly, the guy sounds like a moron and to be sure he wouldn't be the only onein America, but basing your opinion on his example seems a bit flimsy. It is of course your opinion to make any way you see fit, but stereotyping is generally seen in a bad light.

My own personal opinion is that the American primary and secondary (up to age 18) education systsem is in serious disrepair, not that all Americans don't know geography, or the world's flags.

As far as the grass thing goes, I'll bet you'll tell me that all Canadians don't say, "Aye?" when asking a question next!