Comments on: You need to study geography if you think….

By: TransitionGirl

TransitionGirl — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:41:14 +0000

When I was studying in the US, I got the strangest questions about my country.

1. Is Singapore part of China? Japan? Africa?!?!?!
2. Are there monkeys roaming freely in Singapore?
3. Oh Singapore, u guys are the ones who canned Michael Fay (for vandalism, a bit of history lesson, happened during Clinton’s term). Do you cane everyone for every crime? (No. We’re not THAT barbaric)

Oh some other questions i heard asked:

1. Do bears walk on the streets in Russia?
2. (To a Nigerian) Do you still live in trees? (To which, my friend answered: “No. we burrow underground now”. hehe)

That said, I’ve met many amazing and world-knowledgeable Americans.

By: jonesbones5

jonesbones5 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:21:48 +0000

Oh..by the way, the picture is the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One of the most stunning cities ever!!!

By: Patricia Jones

Patricia Jones — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:14:50 +0000

Thank you for sharing your comments. I love to see what everyone is thinking. Ellie, that trip was so great for my kids in understanding the world. My daughter Julia, danced with a little girl who had aids and still weeps for this child. Holly, I love Union High for making our kids learn geography. My daughter loved the book, Three Cups of Tea…and Mom, I love that you commented and shared your views. Manuel, I loved that you brought your son to Ecuador with us and you have a world view. Its so important!!

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:06:48 +0000

Hi Trish!

You are so right on. When my kids were little I took them to Tijuana to show them how another culture lives. I pointed out the barefoot 5 year old supporting his family by selling Chiclets on the side of the road. When my son saw how his teenage step son was acting years later, he wanted to take him to Tijuana so show him just how spoiled he is. I think every child in America should be taken to a 3rd world country for a visit. My granddaughter and I have a ritual when I get back from a trip- she gets to put a pin in the country where I have just been. My trip to Kenya with you was number 40. She’s getting really good.

Ellie

By: Fantastic Forrest

Fantastic Forrest — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:49:12 +0000

Can’t it be both? Many of our fellow Americans are both ethnocentric and lazy.

Sigh.

And many are ignorant of even US geography.

I love that Union High freshman geography requires the kids to know all the countries of the world, and that they’re reading Three Cups of Tea. It’s only when people are exposed to such things that they start to broaden their perspectives. Sadly, many parents are not like you.

Also, can I just say “RIGHT ON!” to your commenter jengelgau? I’m teaching a class about health care reform next month, and the debate highlights people’s ignorance as well as their mean-spirited stupidity.

By: jengelgau

jengelgau — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:56:39 +0000

I liked your geography lesson. Now if you could try and explain why so many on the right feel we are becoming a secular socialistic society, just because a lot of us feel it is morally right for everyone to have health insurance and not just those that are fortunate enough to work for a company that provides or can afford to buy it. And isn’t medicaid a form of socialized medicine. There are a lot of terms being thrown around that people obviously don’t understand; i.e., communism, facism, nazism, dictatorship etc.

By: manuel luz

manuel luz — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:41:56 +0000

This is true. And funny. Regarding your comment about how everyone thinks that Mexico is the only place south of the US, I think the same is true for Canada. When we lived in Vancouver (just north of Seattle), people were always asking us about igloos, eskimos, and polar bears…