Someone did a survey of Americans’ knowledge of geography recently, specifically whether they could point to Iran on a map. (See here.) Only 28% could. No age group did significantly better than any other age group. In addition, men were better than women, independents were better than Republicans who were marginally better than Democrats, the wealthy did better than the poor, and the college-educated did better than those with no college degree.
But, none of the segments that did better managed to get as high as 40% of their group getting it right. Think about it. The college-educated, at 38%, did better than those without a college degree, at 24%. But wouldn’t you think that a much higher percentage of the college-educated could point to Iran on a map? Something like, say, 90%? Back when I was in college, the rest of the world was far away, and for someone to get to Europe was quite an accomplishment, but today things are different, and many college students go abroad. Likewise, the new emphasis on multiculturalism might seem to point to greater geographical knowledge among young people. Nope. Let’s face it. This survey shows the failure of higher education these days, and our educators need to do something about (though of course they won’t).
Then there was Colin Kaepernick’s claim that the strike on Suleimani reflected America’s practice of besieging black and brown bodies, both at home and abroad. Many people pointed out that Iranians are white, though I haven’t heard if he has responded. I myself knew plenty of Iranians back in the late 1970s and early 1980s (when Iran sent multitudes of them here to study). Not a single one of them struck me as brown, much less black.
And here’s another curious story of American geographical ignorance. Back in early 2003, my wife invited a colleague from Holland to come here to give a talk. When we invaded Iraq, her administrative assistant was astonished when she learned that this colleague was still coming. “But surely with the war going on, she won’t be coming, will she?” I have no idea what her reasoning was. Did she think Holland was right next to Iraq? Did she think the entire rest of the world would be at war? Did she think all flights to and from America would be curtailed? Did she think that business as usual in America would stop? I have no idea.
Anyway, I’m embarrassed to announce that in my own household, I can point to Iran on a map, but my wife can’t. Sigh.
Yes, you should be embarrassed. Why haven't you taught your wife where to find Iran? (My wife can't find it either, I bet.)
Posted by: Charles N. Steele | 01/23/2020 at 05:25 PM