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Can you locate Iraq on a map? If you can’t, don’t worry, you’re in the majority! Only 40% of young Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 can pinpoint Iraq on a map–the country where we are at war. Now that is a marked improvement from the 14% in 2002, so you gotta give kudos to someone for that. It’s no secret that Americans are geographically illiterate, but it’s a bit disturbing to read that figure and to be reminded that we are at war in the Middle East, and yet the majority of people who would be foot soldiers of that war know very little about the country and presumably, its history. I know some people might argue that even our own leaders are in that category, but I won’t go there in this post.
Some of the studies also show that identifying the US on a map is also not something to brag home about, so it’s nothing particular about Iraq. To remedy the problem, my idea is that the next time we wage war on any country (even if it’s justified), the president, rather than delivering his impassioned plea for support, instead gives a geography lesson and maybe even a history lesson. I would make it a 30 minute segment that airs on every network. And then in a couple weeks, every household is sent a simple test to answer a few basic geography questions.
Those households who pass the test are given a badge that allows them to debate the merits of the war, etc… (The badge can also be used to get discounts at the gas station) And those households who don’t pass the test are given a badge where they could be arrested if they complain or raise any opinion on the war (And their badge would add an extra tax on their gas). I know it sounds a little anti-American, and I know that even some of our leaders might be given the second badge, but you gotta start somewhere.
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You’re part of a long line of Americans, including the Founders, who were pretty suspicious of the ‘masses.’ The ignorance of a lot of the people who cast votes is pretty scary but it’s the same as it ever was. You left out some other interesting stats: I think something like 75% of Americans could name all Three Stooges but only about 35% could name the three branches of government.
Here’s the best part. One of the guys who did the study with the last gem in it said, “I don’t think of Americans as politically ignorant. I prefer to think of them as ‘pop cultural geniuses.’”