I didn’t see in the article, but I would be interested to know what the breakout of actual degrees sampled was.
I can locate most countries without labeling (perhaps some countries like Uzbekistan I would struggle with), but I do think there is an issue with this statement describing Americans:
is the geographically most illiterate society of consequence on the planet, at a time when United States power can affect countries and peoples around the world.
This presumes that the US should affect countries and peoples around the world. It also assumes that the American people have an interest or direct authority in decisions regarding these places. They do not.
Also assumes map knowledge correlates with being “good decision maker”. Being able to find Iran on a map shouldn’t give you the voice to say whether or not we bomb them.
Like if a farm worker in 1932 said we should go kill Hitler but couldn’t find Germany on a map; they would have been a better decision maker then any of the slop (now or) then running America.
The US cultural and education system is meant to keep us deadened and stupid to the world around us. While I agree in abstract geographical knowledge shouldn’t matter, in this case it is a sign that a person is investigating and learning beyond the background milieu. It doesn’t mean they have good opinions to be clear, just that they have thoughts beyond what the TV tells them to think.
I didn’t see in the article, but I would be interested to know what the breakout of actual degrees sampled was.
I can locate most countries without labeling (perhaps some countries like Uzbekistan I would struggle with), but I do think there is an issue with this statement describing Americans:
This presumes that the US should affect countries and peoples around the world. It also assumes that the American people have an interest or direct authority in decisions regarding these places. They do not.
Also assumes map knowledge correlates with being “good decision maker”. Being able to find Iran on a map shouldn’t give you the voice to say whether or not we bomb them.
Like if a farm worker in 1932 said we should go kill Hitler but couldn’t find Germany on a map; they would have been a better decision maker then any of the slop (now or) then running America.
The US cultural and education system is meant to keep us deadened and stupid to the world around us. While I agree in abstract geographical knowledge shouldn’t matter, in this case it is a sign that a person is investigating and learning beyond the background milieu. It doesn’t mean they have good opinions to be clear, just that they have thoughts beyond what the TV tells them to think.