American Citizens Hopelessly Ignorant About Our Continent …

[unhappycamper]

American Citizens Hopelessly Ignorant About Our Continent …
The Daily Nation, Kenya
August 18, 2007
By Mugumo Munene*


New York Senator Hillary Clinton is spoiling for war with Sudan.

~snip~

Most Americans I've met think that Africa is a single sun-baked country, not a Continent, and that it's ruled by despots, ravaged by poverty and teetering on the brink of doom. They think you must be dreaming if you tell them that there's a city like Nairobi with high-rise buildings, modern facilities and amenities, and that Kenya is as distinct from Ghana as Brazil is from Canada.

And African geography isn't taught in schools or colleges. Just this week, Mr. Fritz Cropp, the head of international relations at one of the universities that prides itself as home to the best journalism schools in the U.S. , told me as much in a very casual manner. I almost thought he sounded unapologetic.

It's demeaning to Africa that while most Americans refer to European countries by their names; France, Germany, Sweden, the U.K. and so on, they refer to Africa as a single country. Mention Kenya and the resulting raft of questions almost annoys: Where is that? Is it hot? Do you want to go home? Where did you learn English? Do you have mosquitoes? How did you come to the U.S.?

We might blame their geography teachers; we might say they're rich and overfed and have no concerns; we might say it isn't important to them to know; but the bottom line is this: Ordinary Americans and even the thousands of journalists across the U.S. know nothing but corruption, chaos, poverty and sweltering heat as the defining elements of Africa.

With the level of ignorance I've found in regard to African affairs here, I doubt that coverage of the Continent by American journalists will change any time soon. But African leaders, one and all, must rise to the occasion, govern properly and lift this Continent from the massive indignity it suffers in the West.


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[ccpup]

1. "American citizens hopelessly ignorant"

it's a strongly held sentiment in more countries than you're aware of. Sad, but true.

[hobbit709]

2. It's not just Africa that they don't know anything about

A recent survey of high schoolers found that 40% of them couldn't even correctly place the United States on an outline map of the continents of the world.

[iamjoy]

3. Makes Me Think Of "The Last Supper"

the movie with Cameron Diaz, Ron Eldard and others.

Bill Paxton plays this redneck and he's talking about patriotism and not trusting foreigners (or anyone but white Christians) because he thought their loyalties were divided. He asks Courtney Vance's character, "What if the United States went to war with Africa?"

"Africa is a continent, not a country."

Anyway, I confess to being ignorant about Africa. I see it as a bunch of nations full of corruption and misery.

[DeeDeeNY]

4. They're ignorant about a lot more than Africa

I can't remember anymore who said it (outrage overload on the brain), but didn't someone in the * administration after Hurricane Katrina refer to New Orleans as a state?

[insanad]

5. Lowering the bar

It is no surprise that a moron like George W. Bush can become president of the Unites States of America when such stupidity and ignorance are held as the epitome of being "one of us". He used this ignorance and common Texas lingo and accent to appeal to the uneducated and poor here in America, and then used his money, family power and influence, and the promise of tax breaks and war profits to garner the support of the wealthy corporations. It's a lethal combination and I can see why Carl Rove, the Republican party, and others saw him as the ultimate puppet stoolie for their evil gains. He can come across as an absolute idiot over and over again and rather than reflect the shame that the rest of the world and intelligent Americans feel, those who support him excuse it as "oh, he's just being Real". He also thinks Africa is a "big country".

Geography and many other studies have always fascinated me, even as a little girl but I don't recall having much of it reinforced in school. Most of what I learned was through my own curiosity and study of maps, globes, newspapers and books. I always considered my kids as pretty smart and the schools they attended fairly good but I recently discussed world geography with my 15 yr. old daughter and I was in awe of how little she knew about other parts of the world.

With all the access to things like Google Earth, the internet(s), and abundant libraries I just assumed my kids were learning about other places in the world. When I was 15 I could name every state and state capitol, all the countries on the N. and S. American continents, all seven continents, and most of the places in Europe and Asia. I had a small understanding of the African continent, but it was never a focus of any educational program. In fact, During the reign of Idi Ammin and the horrible genocide he instigated, I had no idea where Uganda was on the continent. I think most Americans are even more unaware of the world at large and because of our self indulgent culture, we rarely notice.

When coverage of Paris Hilton or other celebutards can recieve hours of interviews, speculation, and other attention while thousands die in Darfur, the Sudan, and other places it's no wonder that we Americans are seen as selfish, self absorbed, and terribly shallow. Our President is a reflection of the worst in us. I'm ashamed to call him the president. I'm ashamed that so many Americans would support him. I'm ashamed that we've sunk so low as to relate to him as a "Commoner like us".

I can only hope that Americans will come to their senses and vote for an intelligent, honest, creative, graceful and respectful person for President of the U.S.. I believe Barack Obama is the reflection of the best in America, the polyglot of our numerous mixed races and cultures, and a wonderful tool to help bridge the continents and nations of the world. If you read any of his books or listen to his speeches I think it would be hard to not be impressed with his intellect, his grace, and the grasp on world affairs that he has. I look forward to having him as our nex President.

[Harry Monroe]

12. And concidentially, Obama's father is from Kenya

[Irishonly]

6. We Are Ignorant About Many Things

You wouldn't believe how many people think New Mexico is part of Mexico.

Many high school students don't know the names of their Governors, Senators or other elected officials.

[madmom]

7. The one thing the bush admin has been extremely successful at...

the dumbing down of America!

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Book rec: The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski

RK was a journalist for the Polish Press Agency dating back to Warsaw Pact days. "Shadow of the Sun" provides a POV very different from American journalists'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryszard_Kapu%C5%9Bci%C5%84ski

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Sun-Ryszard-Kapuscinski/dp/0679779078/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4552924-3324855?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187981234&sr=1-1

[MasonJar]

9. And we wonder why we have the nomiker, the ugly American. We

have such backward and provincial knowledge that it is embarrassing.

[MasonJar]

10. Actually W is a moron in more ways than one; he is the typical

uncultured and incurious rube. The man never had been outside the US until he became pResident and now he loves traipse around on our dime.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Actually, he spent a summer in China when Poppy was ambassador, but

his only purpose in going there was to chase after Chinese women.

Unfortunately for him, it was the Gang of Four era, and all the Chinese women were afraid even to speak to a foreigner.

[mwb970]

13. Geography teachers? What are they?

Everything my 13-year-old niece knows about geography, she has learned from me. The only thing she gets at her school is rote teaching of the standardized tests. No geography. No thinking. No fun.

We don't educate our children any more. How are they are going to pay the bill for Bush's Folly?

The next generation will be much worse off than this one. We have let them down, big time.