[syndicate] MIRROR: 80% Of Americans Can't Find Bush's Target

[Ed Hoffman]

Do you know where Utah is? The Mormons are spreading far and wide across the 
globe.






>From: "Ivo Skoric" <ivo at reporters.net>
>Reply-To: ivo at reporters.net
>To: Ed Agro <edagro at bellatlantic.net>
>Subject: [syndicate] MIRROR: 80% Of Americans Can't Find Bush's Target
>Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 14:27:35 -0500
>
>Here is an idea for Congress:
>There should be an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning
>citizens from supporting their President to go bombing a country
>that they can't find on the map. That would either reduce the
>number of U.S. bombing campaigns abroad, or improve Americans
>interest in geography and the affairs of the world: both of which is
>good. Here in the survey many people knew that Iraq is close to
>Iran and Afghanistan, but this did not help them, since they didn't
>have a clue where those are either.
>ivo
>
>
>------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>
>
>http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12391626&method=full&siteid=50143
>
>THE MIRROR, Friday, November 22, 2002
>
>80% Of Americans Can't Find Bush's Target
>
> >From Richard Wallace, US Editor, in New York
>
>GEORGE Bush is on the brink of invading Iraq - but most Americans have no
>idea where the country is.
>
>A survey revealed that only one in seven aged between 18 and 24 could
>identify Saddam Hussein's land.
>
>And while more than half knew that al-Qaeda and the Taliban were based in
>Afghanistan, only one in six could find the country on a map.
>
>Even more worrying - one in 10 couldn't pick out America.
>
>When the Daily Mirror carried out a poll of 100 people on the streets of 
>New
>York yesterday, we found that 80 per cent didn't have a clue where Iraq 
>was.
>
>Yesterday President Bush asked for military support from 60 countries,
>including Britain, as he prepared for an assault on Baghdad, which he is
>threatening if Saddam defies a UN resolution to get rid of weapons of mass
>destruction.
>
>At least 12,000 Americans should know where Iraq is - they are the troops
>currently massed just over the border in Kuwait.
>
>The poll that highlighted the Americans' ignorance about Iraq - population
>22 million, area 260,000 square miles - was carried out by the National
>Geographic Society.
>
>The Mirror poll was carried out at the self-proclaimed centre of the world 
>-
>Times Square on Broadway.
>
>New York cop John Riley, mounted on his trusty steed Hoss, studied our map
>for several minutes, saying: "I've got to get this right."
>
>Then, with his finger hovering over northern Europe, he declared: "I know
>it's round here somewhere.
>
>"Ah yes, there."
>
>With a firm stab of his finger, he picked Austria as the new Iraq. Hope 
>he's
>better with an identity parade.
>
>Young couple John and Joan Jubett, from Manhattan, wanted some help.
>
>Waving half-heartedly at South America, John asked: "Is it here somewhere?
>Or here?" He skimmed across the atlas to China. Finally he settled on
>northern Italy.
>
>One girl in her twenties, clearly pondering a greater philosophical
>question, asked: "Is Iraq even in the world."
>
>A burly construction worker barked: "Don't know, don't care, they'll be
>nothing left of it soon anyway."
>
>There was no messing about from Tracey Shauger, 21, and pal Misty Wright,
>20, from Michigan.
>
>Five seconds' consideration and a firm "here", as both agreed Iraq was in
>the Gobi desert. Wrong - that's in Mongolia.
>
>Drag queens Kristal Snow and Hagatha Christie, from the Lower East Side,
>were equally sure.
>
>Hagatha hissed: "Oh, that Saddam is such a naughty boy. I know where he
>lives, it's right here," pointing at Norway. "No, no," said Kristal. 
>"That's
>where I'm from.
>
>"Iraq is right there."
>
>Er, good morning Vietnam.
>
>Others placed Iraq in France, Germany, Albania, the Caspian Sea, South
>Africa and Nicaragua.
>
>Many of those who couldn't locate it admitted to feeling ashamed.
>
>Carina Jannetta, 27, said: "I guess I should know. I am interested in
>foreign policy - I am against any kind of conflict. I know plenty about the
>issues but I guess my geography isn't what it could be."
>
>Myra Dunlap, 54, admitted: "I can barely find the US. I'm not stupid, I'm
>just ashamed to admit I'm really bad at geography."
>
>Rochelle Fox, 32, on holiday from California, said: "I know it is in the
>Middle East. I'm not that stupid, but I just can't quite remember exactly
>where on the map."
>
>Theresa Livingstone, 32, admitted: "I guess I should know. There's enough
>about it on the news every day. I know it is close to Iran and Afghanistan,
>but I just can't find it."
>
>Roberto Rios, 56, said: "I may not know where it is on the map, but that
>doesn't mean I do not care about the issues involved."
>
>Jay Greany, 40, who also failed the test, admitted: "It's quite
>embarrassing. I should pay more attention." There were still those who were
>nearly up to the challenge. Kejli Jensen, 35, from Brooklyn took his time
>and plumped for Turkey. Close, but no cigar.
>
>Johan Samora, 26, insisted: "I'll get it right next time." And Diana
>Grullon, 23, said: "I only can't find it because I'm wearing my glasses."
>Larry Layugan, 47, from Hawaii, said: "I'm not embarrassed that I didn't
>find it. At least I got the right area of the world."
>
>Josephine Bloomer, 67, pointed at Afghanistan. Then she said: "I was close,
>but it bothers me that I didn't know."
>
>Those who did get it right were ashamed of their fellow countrymen's
>performance.
>
>Jordan Stevens, 25, from Brooklyn, was one of the quickest to find Iraq.
>
>Despite the experiences of many of his fellow citizens, he insisted: "Us
>Americans aren't as dumb as you think we are, you know."
>
>Sean Condron, 33, echoed his sentiments, bragging: "You think us Americans
>are all bad at geography but I got it. Ha!"
>
>Elise Pritchard, 45, despaired that so many people did not know where Iraq
>was.
>
>She said: "It's on the TV and in the papers ever day. How can you pay so
>little attention to what is happening that you don't know that?"
>
>Anne Rothschild, 56, said: "We are totally connected to Iraq right now.
>
>"It's a very scary situation. We need to educate everyone about what is
>happening.
>
>"But it is in the paper every day, and in magazines and endless TV shows .
>It's hard to know what else we can do.
>
>"We need to raise awareness of things happening outside the US.
>
>"I guess people just aren't interested enough."
>
>Oliver Wildman, 22, found Iraq instantly. He said: "I'm constantly amazed 
>at
>how little my friends know about what is happening outside the US. Well,
>inside it too.
>
>"Not that it stops them mouthing off about it in the bar."
>
>Maggie Miller, 48, said: "When they are talking about a story on the news I
>want to figure out where it is.
>
>"We Americans as a whole are very insular. We need to understand about the
>rest of the world."
>
>Eurydice Thomas, 32, from California, said: "I got it but then I do have a
>masters degree in geography!
>
>"But geography education in America is in a sad state. It needs a lot more
>attention, especially now with so many conflicts.
>
>"We need to change the way news is reported so that people become more 
>aware
>of what parts of the world are involved."
>
>Meredith Lissack, 24, said: "It's bad if someone can't find it. People 
>don't
>have any concept of what's going on in the world right now."
>
>Michael Tolesny, 35, said: "I knew where it wasn't then I narrowed it 
>down."
>
>And Kimberly Wheeler, 24, California, bragged: "Of course I know where it
>is."
>
>Charles Humpstone, 71, from Vermont, got it straight away, but his daughter
>Alessandra, 41, did not have a clue.
>
>"Shame on you," he laughed.
>
>One irate pensioner, who had an east European accent, didn't want to get
>involved.
>
>He said: "I know what you're doing - you're trying to make us out to be
>stupid.
>
>"If you think you're so clever you tell me the capital of *Belarus.
>
>"Hey? Hey? You don't know, you don't know. I know where Iraq is - I'm just
>not telling you."
>
>(*For the record, the capital of Belarus is Minsk.)
>
>Americans have always been notoriously insular - just a sixth of them hold
>passports - and asking them to find anywhere outside the United States on a
>map is a daunting challenge.
>
>The National Geographic Society survey said that nearly half of American
>youngsters couldn't pinpoint France or the UK either.
>
>Society president John Fahey asked: "If our young people can't find places
>on a map and lack awareness of current events, how can they understand the
>cultural, economic and natural resource issues that confront us?"
>
>Britt Meylan, 32, a sales executive from Texas was in no doubt where to 
>find
>Iraq.
>
>Grabbing the Mirror's atlas, she immediately pointed it out, correctly
>identified all the countries on its borders and thrust the book back,
>demanding: "Anything else?
>
>"And by the way we're going to kick Saddam's butt."
>
>
>
>
>
>
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