American Youths Are Lost!

Outside the US, most people think Americans know very little about the rest of the world. An anti-American myth some might say? Well, not necessaily - a poll for National Geographic finds that 6 in 10 Americans between 18 and 24 can't find Iraq or Afghanistan on a map. But more surpringly, nearly 1/3 couldn't find Louisiana and close to 50% couldn't identify Mississippi.
Not only are those people ignorant about the world and their own country, but they don't even care : only 30 % of respondents think it's important to know the locations of countries in the news.

National Geographic President John Fahey announced a program to help remedy the problem, saying:

"Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world".

Unfortunately, it might take more than a TV program to change ignorance. Who's going to watch National Geographic but people who already know those things? The others will watch American Idol!