why is it that Americans know so little about global news and events?
340991
Most Americans don't watch the news. They prefer to watch American Idol and America's Next Top Model. The smart Americans are few and far between. I would like to think that I am one of them. ;)
1044396
Between the lines, most of the news is just a bunch of homogenized crap.  I lived in New Zealand for 4 years and\ngot a glimpse at just how slanted the US News reports tend \nto be.  National Public radio and BBS are fairly good news sources and PBS is also quite good- like the news hour.  Switch on Fox News and watch me boil into a murderous rage- talk about brainwashing B.S.!
1008471
absolutely! we know that the average person is just not very educated, particularly in politics, so they do not know any better but to get their news from TV. Fox news, run by wealthy right-wing rupert murdoch, has done enough marketing to figure out how to be hugely popular, and now has become a mass propaganda machine for the ruling party -- damm! this sounds like the old USSR doesn't it? if you want some details of this see the references below. they are disturbing but i believe it is important for people to understand the MSN and exactly how much news is skewed in this country. It's not that Americans are stupid, they are just victims of a faulty system of news which feeds them misinformation; think of it as a bad side-effect of capitalism.
139973
Foreigners do not hate America, I think they hate our politicians. But, I agree with you, I do think it's ignorant. But at the same time you have to consider the fact that our image is influenced by what the world sees on the news and what they see in our movies, music, etc. But, I think it's mostly influenced by the media.
640838
Unfortunately television is the way most people get their news...there are all sorts of issues that we Americans went forever without hearing turmoil in Sri Lanka...mass genocide in Africa just be glad that TV still gives some issues a voice otherwise everyone in this country that didn't read would be clueless...
574992
That is an excellent question, and one that I complain about on a daily basis. It is especially ironic considering the sheer size of the country, and the fact that most current residents of the country came originally from somwhere else.\n\nPart of the reason why Americans (as a whole) remain so geographically ignorant is due to the education system or lack thereof. "More important" topics are being taught or are given a stronger emphasis than "mere" geography. That is the reason why the National Geographical Society was formed, to enhance the spread of knowledge on all things to do with mapping and geography. \n\nAnother reason is, when you are taught only one language (English) and also taught that "America is the only country worth learning about", why should you bother learning about other people's places? And this is despite the fact that this country is so big and important to the WHOLE WORLD, and this country's policies affect the lives of people worldwide, one would think that they would take the time to know more about the cultures and geography of other countries, as well as ensure that they take care when dealing with them, since, as they say, what goes around always comes around. Americans often accuse Britons of being from an "insular" island nation, but based solely on the geographical knowledge that the average American (and their leaders!) exhibit, I think that the shoe is on the other foot now. The only difference is, the American "island" is huge compared to the British Isles.\n\nA third reason is, the more interested you are about something, the more likely it is that you will learn about it. Have you noticed how often it is, that kids can learn all the words to the latest song on the radio, but ask them what they learned in school today, and they will look at you like you asked them to do brain surgery or something?\n\nA fourth reason: parents aren't taking the time to instill in their children a love of learning, and they are not supervising their education. They don't follow up on to make sure that they're doing their homework, and they don't attend Parent-Teacher Conferences. There's a reason why they call the language you speak best your "mother" tongue -- it's because your mother is the one who probably taught it to you in the first place. Any fool can have kids, that's a biological thing, but it takes a special person to be a parent. Parents have to care for all aspects of their children's well-being and development, and that includes their education about the world in which they live.\n\nThose are a few reasons.
518603
by media do you mean something serious like FT or Herald Tribune??? I doubt many americans read either of those.\nAre they brainwashed by media like Fox and USA today? Probably...but i wouldn't even call those two "media"...
477497
It is so important to be informed.  You can't make decisions based on the junk that is shoved at you from every media angle.  Every news station has an agenda, and they know what demographic is watching, and what they want to hear.  It's all about ratings for them.  This is why you need to be in the know yourself.  It is a responsibility we all have as Americans, and alot of people fought very hard to maintain this, the very least we can do is care about the land in which we live enough to involve ourselves in its betterment.
393648
Because Europeans have a better education system than we do here in the US.  Most Americans care only about themselves, their community or their State.  Europeans on the other hand realize that what happens in one country - be it good or bad - can happen in theirs.  Therefore they learn all they can about other governments and their people.
956846
They're not less intelligent that the rest of the world, it's just that a lot of American people don't care about the rest of the world and know nothing about it, and this is why a lot of people say they're stupid. But I think they are just unaware of the world around them, and it's not a cliché, I say it because I've spoken to a lot of American people who ddidn't even know for example when Iraq is, when they've been on war with this country for more than three years.\n\nSomething else typical of American people is that most of them don't speak any foreign language and expect everybody, everywhere they go, to speak English. And although it's true that everywhere you go you'll find easily people who speak English, it's still better to speak the local language, people will find you more friendly and will be more friendly to you.\n\nBut this all doesn't make American people less intelligent than the others, I think they just need to open up.
314839
Actuallly we American's DON'T have the largest chances when it comes to education. Our education system can't even compare to that of other developed countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan etc. American students know far less than they should. When a group of Chinese students were asked to name the first 5 US presidents they had no problem. When a group of US students were asked the same question, they were clueless. Many US High School graduates don't even understand what is happening in the own government. They don't understand International relations. They do understand which stars won the latest Emmy awards & what time their favorite shows come  on, and what the scores are for their favorite sports teams. Thei priorities are in the wrong place. Why does Bill Gates, a private citizen have to use his own resources to improve American education when the American government should be doing it? America will not be on top for much longer unless some great improvements are made.
116032
Unfortunately,most Americans can't find America on a globe.
1168554
coz americans are dumass and brainwashed...
965565
Media is in bed with Liberal agenda, that's no secret. The average American has no idea what a real war is and most do not have th stomach to see one through. They do not want to think about bad things and have "their" petty little lives disturbed by anything hard. They do not want to commit the brain power into researching for themselves to find the truth they would rather listen to the "experts" on CNN, NBC, ABC who's only purpose is to make money and to entertain not to report the truth.
1159429
What's more interesting would be to think about what it is like in the rest of the world. We are spoiled in the U.S.
593111
Because those Americans don't really care about what happens in the rest of the world, so it makes no difference for them whether or not Africa is a country or a continent or whatever.
780525
the majority of ppl in the U.S. stay ignorant because bush wants it that way, he knows that if most of what really happened on and around the war ever got out he would be dumped big time! so he probably covers a heck of alot up... Americans should get their news from uk or europe and not listen to their own guys prattling on about alot of b******. coz its probably all lies anyway!