I just found out that 75% of Americans can't find Iraq on a map.
50% can't find New York City
29% can't find their state Capital
80% of the people living in this house don't care (not sure if Annie does...but Griff, Coop, Parker and I sure don't)
Is it really a national tragedy that we can't find a particular place on a map? Are they polling international pilots? If they are...then we've got a problem. Otherwise, I think we'll be ok.
I need to know how to get to work, the doctor, the store, and to Fuller's house for his 'So you think you can dance' parties. That's just about it. It'd be nice to know how to get to Solon, Ohio without pulling it up on Mapquest...but I've got Mapquest, and I've got the time to pull stuff up.
So what if American's can't find stuff on maps.
How about this poll:
Do you know the names of your neighbors?
Do you know how to help others?
Do you know why the caged bird sings?
This just in - only 2 Americans (Maya Angelou and Oprah) know why the caged bird sings....apparently he's chipper.
I want to know my neighbors.
I want to know how I can help.
I want to know where I left the remote. I want to know how Jim Rome ever got a job. I want to know why Ed was cancelled. I don't want to know what road I need to take to get to Baghdad.
the caged bird sings for freedom. or something like that.
ReplyDeletethough knowing that's probably as important as knowing where to find baghdad on a map... :)
America is getting dumbererer. I think that's the point.
ReplyDeleteMurph,
ReplyDeleteWhat if God said he would give you the choice...bring "Ed" back on the air; but if he did, he would also cancel "The Office."
WWMD?
God wouldn't play me like that. If I had faith as big as a mustard seed I'd ask Him to bring back Ed, Northern Exposure, Seinfeld and put the Office on twice a week.
ReplyDeleteI'd also ask for $200 spending cash....
TWMWD
Is it a concern that three fourths of Americans don’t know where a country is that has been in the news EVERY DAY for how many years? We’re not talking about not knowing where Uzbekistan is. Isn’t this almost the equivalent of someone living next to OPRAH but not knowing the name of their neighbor?!
ReplyDeleteNaw, it’s not a concern – unless this majority of the population voted. Because if the majority of the people didn’t have a clue and voted, who knows what kind of people they would elect to run a certain superpower.
However, if the people in that country didn’t really care that they lived in the “land of bliss,” then, NO, it wouldn’t be a concern – in that country.
It might be a concern for that country’s neighbors, whatever their names are, and wherever they live - but not in the superpower country. ‘Cause what does what is going on in the rest of the world have to do with us?
Well said, anonymous!
ReplyDeleteanother anonymous
how can someone like Ed and The Office?
ReplyDeleteseems like an impossible thing to me.
i like Ed. i really don't like The Office.
and i can't find much on the map. and i'm not proud of that.
but back to the tv thing...it really puzzles me.
WWMLTB?
still don't see the point. I hear a lot about these places on the news are rarely do they take out a globe and show where it is. Most of us won't be flying there anytime soon and even if we were, the pilot probably knows how to get there.
ReplyDeleteI can find it on a map. That fact doesn't really change my IQ or love for my Country...or concern for anywhere else.
It's just pointing to a place on a map.
Elementary, middle, high schools and colleges have basic knowledge requirements for a reason. I think it would be nice if they expanded general knowledge requirements. The world is becoming too specialized. Understanding other people (and preventing wars) depends on learning about other cultures and their histories (and where they're from). Geography and history, music and art are just as important as math, science and sports to be a well-rounded individual.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible as a historical document, a document of early middle-eastern civilization alone, (as well as all of the documents that other religions base their faith on) should be part of history requirements. But then you would have to even that out with pagan beliefs and I don't think that anyone is ready to do that.
"still don’t get the point." So what is the point?
ReplyDeleteI don’t think the point is finding some place on a map. Finding a well publicized place on a map is not really that hard. But if you are incapable, or unmotivated, to do something relatively simple, how will you do something that begins to matter?
I don’t think the point is needing to know (as in we are personally taking a trip somewhere and must know how to get there), it’s needing to care. Would it be a problem asking someone, “How’s the wife and/or kids?” Why is it really necessary to know anyone’s name? Are we going to be filling out their insurance forms? No, we know their names because we care.
I don’t think the point is caring about THIS versus caring about THAT. I should know my neighbors’ names. OK. Well, I know her name (the neighbor on my right), but I can’t be bothered with knowing and remembering his name (the neighbor on my left). Hey there! usually gets the job done. Besides, I know her name, isn’t that enough? So, is it a big deal if I don’t know somebody’s name? [see last sentence of second paragraph]
So what’s the point? Not what we know, but what we care to know.
And remembering that our opinions are not what really decide what’s important. (“The stuff I know is what’s important. That other stuff - stuff I don’t know, that’s not important.”) The real importance of something will never depend on whether we personally care or not.
house,
ReplyDeletethat's why i am giving up going so desperately after knowledge, and instead going for truth. Truth is universal, and looks the same any way you look at it, or any place from which you look to it.
virgil - oh, I agree! Truth is ultimately what is important. In comparison, knowledge is merely useful (or as Emil Faber said, “Knowledge is good.”). And of course, not all knowledge is even useful.
ReplyDeleteHow about this truth: it’s not always either/or, sometimes it can be BOTH/AND ? In this case, we don’t have to give up one thing for another. It’s possible to have both truth and knowledge.
Let’s all go for truth, and knowledge.
BTW, nice to meet you … um … what did you say your name was? [wink]