Is it true that americans no very little about other countries and cultures?

Question

I have lived in the U.S, Europe and Japan.....Out of all the places, only in america I have been asked such stupid question about where I am from( India)...I get asked, "does everyone in India drink cow urine?"(the answer is no).I get asked, "Are there catholics in india?" (yes, there are)...I also get asked, "are there malls and movie theaters"? (Yes there are)..Are americans really this stupid? What do they think of other countries? Yes india is poor, but not THAT poor. All the other countries already seem to know a lot about India...I'm sorry, but I'm just curious..

Answer 1

Yes! It is a sad fact that most of the younger generation has no true concept of life outside of the US. They have iPods, video games, TiVo, computers, cell phones, blackberry......all sorts of things that makes it possible to live in thier own world. Most times they even get exposed to what happens in other cultures they see car bombings, children living in poverty with flies on thier faces, and war torn landscapes. They could not tell you what country that story was even about. They are also under the belief that EVERY human on earth wants to be an American.

To be fair, when I have traveled abroad, and they learned I am from L.A., they want to know how many movie stars I know, how big is my swimming pool, the want me to talk American,(usually a southern accent, or surfer), and they think I am rich. To each thier own.

Answer 2

I agree. And this is just from an outsider's point of view: I think American's have a fantastic knowledge of their own country (I cannot recite all the Prime Ministers Australia has had like they can of their Presidents), and they know a lot about such things as Independence Day etc, which is fantastic that American history is well taught to kids, however, it is a bit of a shame that world history and culture is not so highly regarded. I guess everyone's education wasn't as good as it was intended. I learnt nothing about the Aboriginal people and their culture at school, my Dad had to teach me it. Though I like to think over here we are taught to be interested in all different countries.

Answer 3

Sadly, since Americans are not exposed enough to other countries, they are pretty ignorant. They aren't exposed to other cultures enough. I am from Costa Rica, so I know how you feel like. One time I got asked if they have internal plumbing in Costa Rica! No, we live in trees and piss off the branches! You should even see how many times I have heard somebody say we should have NUKED Iraq. How would that have solved anything??? Although the majority of Americans aren't as enlightened as people form other countries, keep in mind, that as in most countries, there are a a great deal who do have a good worldly knowledge! Also in many countries the majority of people also do stereotype one way or another.
I blame it on the education. Whilst other countries people learn about other nations, I am in the ninth grade and have been learning just about my state history and the American geography for the past 3 YEARS! Of course I educate myself with outside sources. Parents and teachers should also take responsibility

Answer 4

I am an Indian-American, first generation. I get some other stupid stuff like this. Some Americans do not appreciate other cultures. This problem could be stopped if people studied other modern cultures in school. However, many americans are tolerant people who admire and like to learn about other cultures. But there are a few stupid rednecks here who cannot acccept other cultures. These are the dumb ones who live in trailers.

Answer 5

The Irony is that Americans know very little about there own country...They still think Iraq has something to do with terrorists and 9/11! None of the 9/11 hijackers were from Iraq, they were mostly from Saudi Arabia! One of the USA's allies in "The war on terror".

Answer 6

Yes, it's true. I think americans are a bit ignorant when it comes to other cultures and other countries because we're so caught up in our world and it's not the same everywhere else. It's pathetic because we have so many different cultures in this country and it seems that we know nothing about them. I think it's one of the reasons people from other countries consider us a bit ignorant and tasteless.

Answer 7

Yes, our US history classes at least until college paints a single sided picture of events to our children. Because our schools aren't that difficult, demanding and frankly long as in some European countries our kids kinda slip by knowing little more than general world information.

This doesn't mean our children aren't and shouldn't be taught compassion and respect from their parents and teachers also.

Answer 8

U.S. people have the largest stupidity per capita ratio. I.E. they call the U.S. America, even though America is the continent, and nearly every other country in AMERICA got here before the U.S.
I've traveled quite a bit as well, and foreign consensus is that the U.S. is pompous and arrogant.

Answer 9

Depends on who you are asking. Some people lack common sense. Some people are just plain dumb. I think a lot of it is the fact that people just don't care. There's no real straight answer. Sorry for the ignorant questions haha.

Answer 10

it is very true. And now ther is no home ecanomics so ppl dont no how to cook or sew so they dont no what real food tastes like. so they olny focus on math and science cause leader want more enginners in the world. art and music are becomeing more uncommon too. so pllneed to work together to do something about it