quote:

ORIGINAL: pupofMoGa
So how can Americans be considered to be uneducated and do not care about what is going on around us.

quote:

How many people are there in the United States? Millions to be exact

quote:


We all can point out on a globe where Afghanistan is.

quote:

ORIGINAL: pupofMoGa

I know that from the way SOME Americans may seem that we are unaware of the things that occur around us. Americans in general are no more liars, thieves, cheats, cowards, and bullies than anyone in any other country in the world is. It is hard to say that general Americans are like that because that is a stereotypical assessment from observing a handful of people. How many people are there in the United States? Millions to be exact and the GENERAL population cannot be judged by its leader or by a select group of people. I am in college right now working to become a history teacher in the good old USA, and I am proud for the future in which I am going to be helping to shape. Americans are not uneducated as some people may think; we have some of the best schools in the world. Children in America are taught where states are and their capitals even before they get out of 2nd grade. Therefore, by the time, the child is about 10 years old; they can recite the states and capitals and know where they are on a map. Now not all schools in the United States are equal in the level of education, but the teachers have to teach the children the same information. Sure, some citizens do not care about OUR beloved United States, but that does not mean we are ALL ignorant. I am a living historian in whom I teach youth groups about the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and American Civil War. I know minute details and share them amongst the children I teach. In addition, I know that those children gain a greater sense of history and education and will want to further their education in the future. There are thousands of people like me that have a passion for education to the extent to which we make it our whole livelihood. History is my job, my passion, my cup of tea if you will. Therefore, from the work I do I ensure that the youth of today will be well educated and well informed about the world around them. It is a shame that people that do not see the full picture on what goes on behind the headlines of the media, make judgments about the United States. Just because our government makes bad decisions from time to time, that does not mean that Americans follow our elected officials. There are majority votes and minority votes, and the minority is the ones that are lumped in with the rest of the crowd and are assumed to have the same beliefs/thoughts/ideals. That is an assumption and not cold hard fact. I do not know where you come from but ALL Americans know what happened on September 11, 2001. We all know where and how it happened and who did it. Anyone could point out on a globe where Afghanistan is if one was handed to us and we studied it. So how can Americans be considered to be uneducated and do not care about what is going on around us. I think that saying that is negligence on the speaker’s part and shows the speakers lack of knowledge on the topic and of American society in general. I love this nation and stand behind it 100%.
-pup

quote:

The year didnt happen to be 1969 did it? <s>

quote:

ORIGINAL: IronBear

More years ago I was still an Officer in the Australian Regular Army (SAS) and was with a group of US Servicemen in Freemantle when one of the Navy ships were in. One lad, a Texan as I remember, commented to me that put a group of Americans together and there will be a pissing contest about everything American was bigger, better and faster than anyone else could produce. He continues his comment with the statement that the problem was that from early childhood, the folks of his and his parent's generations were brainwashed that the USA was God's gift to humanity. Laughing, he told me that the "Yanks" couldn't do this with the Aussies because our country was so big, and besides as he commented get the Ameriacans out of their groups and mix with the one on one and they were just like us Aussies. (Well I find we are closer to California in outlook but closer to the Southern States in humour ~ Were I was born there was a strong sympethic feeling for the Confederacy for which many of the Irish members of my family fought). I have a deep respect and love for The US people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence!
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's all in the game and how you play it!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

quote:

The year didnt happen to be 1969 did it? <s>

Well since the budget crisis was as a result of the provisions of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act....I would guess not.

quote:

ORIGINAL: pupofMoGa

Thank You Mr. Warren for your reply. I am sorry i made an exact statement in a generalized post. Also that i am sorry for wording that everyone could find Afghanistan on a map, i understand that everyone has different abilities and it might be difficult for them to do so. I have since edited my OP to reflect this.

-pup

quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnWarren

I remember asking a group of seniors in a college journalism program why, if they were editors, they might want to look carefully at a story that the Iranian army had invaded Israel. Only two were aware that the countries don't share a contiguous border and do, in fact, have two countries between them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gauge

The book that I am currently reading is George Orwell's 1984. What is scary is that Orwell points out that keeping the masses ignorant is the key to their government. Reading this book, especially now in today's political climate is quite frightening.

quote:


The people elect their leader, even if you don’t think it is fair that America is judged by the actions of George Bush he is still Americas elected representative and what he does effects how America is looked upon by the rest of the world. When considering something like the reputation of a nation you really have to look at these things in the round.