Aladdin Sane

The lack of geographic knowledge is not a function of being egocentric or a superpower or an American. I dare say lots of people in Europe and Asia couldn't find Louisiana or San Marino or Kansas or Moldova or Estonia or Ulaan Bataar or Bhutan or the town of Uncertain, Texas, on a world map. Many people from various countries have little or no knowledge of biology, political science, information sciences, and animal husbandry. However they may have substantial knowledge about subjects that I would find of little use and not interesting in the least. They may have knowledge that is exceedingly important to them in their world.

I taught World Geography in public high schools for 13 years. In my classroom students had the opportunity to explore many aspects of almost every country. But like a language learned over a semester in a classroom, geographic knowledge will fade quickly if not used. I suspect (and this poll seems to bear it out) most young people are more interested in video games and reality television than events in Israel. On the other hand I bet most every person polled has some specialty knowledge that few others possess.

I happen to be interested in the social sciences and current affairs so I can probably find Kathmandu and Novaya Zemlya on a map. But don't ask me to butcher a calf or raise a crop of peanuts.

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Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.