Why are a lot of people in America ignorant?

Question

They still think we live in trees in Africa..
I told somebody i'm from the Ivory Coast, somebody ask me if it was a continent?
Not long ago, somebody asked me Africa was one country, i could not stop laughing!
Ignorance is no excuse!
Even back in Africa, i knew all states of the United States, all countries in Europe and their capitals!

Answer 1

honey it's the case of many super power countries.
I vory Coast is very big compared to where i come from,i always had a problem explaining where my country was.
unfortunately as we are in the headlines as a country at war
or subject to terrorism,now everybody knows where it is.
by the,j'ai vécu un an et demi à Abidjan,visité le pays,j'ai
adoré!Cocody,Trechville...

Answer 2

Not all Americans are that ignorant but sadly there are a lot. I was mailing a letter to Togo and had "Togo" written on the envelope. The lady (African American lady by the way....wearing traditional African jewelry) at the post office said to me "You have to write the name of the country on the envelope."

I said "I did. It's right there. Togo."

She said, "Where's that?"

"Africa."

"Well write that on the envelope!"

Sigh. I didn't argue but I am pretty sure that writing 'Africa' on the envelope didn't help with delivery. Don't take it personally though, many Americans have gross misconceptions about their own country. When the Olympics were hosted in Atlanta, I saw a news article about how a lady who lived in New Mexico tried to buy tickets for the games. She was refused service because "she was supposed to buy tickets from the ticket agents in her own country." This poor woman couldn't even get a supervisor to let her buy tickets because clearly "New Mexico" wasn't part of the United States!!

I think it's our school system which is why my children are homeschooled....and know the countries and capitals of Africa and do NOT think Africans live in trees. (Everyone knows you live in grass huts! (teasing))

Answer 3

When I was a kid in school, I knew all the countries in Africa, and their capitals, and even some of their major cities. Over the past 4 decades, since I graduated from High School, African nations have changed bounderies, names, (of nations and cities), politics, even geographically!! It was pretty much impossible to "keep up". But... the Ivory Coast has stayed pretty much the same.... I almost feel sorry for the person who gave you such a good laugh!!

Answer 4

America is not ignorant, it's is the ignorant people that live here in the united states. This is going to sound prejiduce but white people are more ignorant.I am native american and know how you feel.There are still people out there that think indian's still live in teepee's how ignorant is that.I am not prejiduce at all but back in the day white's treated indian's very
bad.Black's were slaves and indian's were killed.I have alot of
different races in my family indian,chinese,black,mexican.I am
more native but I have a little chinese in my blood too.Some of My cousin are black and some are mixed with mexican.and
white.I can't be prejiduce I love all my family for who they are.
Interesting question now I am all fired up.Don't judge america
this is the land of the free..
Peace Out !sweetnettacakes,

Answer 5

Just like in your country, there are ignorant Americans. Please don't judge us on the few you have heard about or had the displeasure of meeting.

Yes, many Americans cannot name all the areas of Africa or any other country while people where you live have the interest in learning more about America. Perhaps that is why so many people want to moved to the USA.

Answer 6

It's easier to be ignorant. Knowledge requires responsibility.