The #1 Problem in America (or close to it)

I love my country, as any good American does. But unfortunately, I must make a criticism concerning an issue that is really beginning to bother me. The number one problem in America: Ignorance. 20% of American children cannot locate the Pacific Ocean on a map? This is insane. Americans know so little about the world around them, and so many Americans cannot even locate Iraq on a map-the country we are at war with. Wake up call! I do get tired of Europeans saying the same thing about America, but let’s not worry about that. We-as Americans-need to take a look at our own country and decide what we need to do solve this problem.

I, as a future international relations major-should not be too quick to criticize. I spend some of my spare time researching stats on current international events and learning foreign languages. I will admit, I probably know a great deal more than the average joe sixpack, so perhaps I shouldn’t be too quick to judge considering I am not the norm. But it is not too hard to have sympathy for the idea I am presenting-it doensn’t matter if you are majoring in molecular biology or political science-there is no excuse for not being able to locate Iraq on a map. Perhaps some people just don’t care-and maybe some don’t need to necessarily. But as a whole, we Americans are behind. Our education systems are relatively behind, and geography is rarely taught in school.

We are all part of this world. No matter what are nationalities are. Why is it okay to push math and science, but not geography and comparative government? The answer lies in the fact that building nuclear weapons is more important than diplomacy.

I am not a fan of the current political candidates, but at least they are inspiring an interest in politics in America’s youth.

-Amlaw