Why is the general public in the United States ignorant of social and political issues of Latin America?

Question

Much of what one hears on the news in the United States is what occurs in Iraq and Israel; yet, seldom does the general population in the United States hear of what happens within Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Equador, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, etc.

What's more, our school systems in the United States rarely teach the basic social and geographic fundamentals of these numerous countries. So why is so little news reported on what occurs within the entire western hemisphere?

Answer 1

The American people tend to be VERY "provincial". THEIR Country is the "center of the universe"- and everyplace ELSE is of little interest. I think this is a TERRIBLE attitude also, but that's just the way it IS here. It took a 9/11- to make people realise that not everybody LOVES us in the World, and that those people could actually ACT OUT that unhappiness on us. So it's NOT just Latin Americans we ignore...- It's EVERYBODY who doesn't wave the "red, white & blue..".

Answer 2

Assuming that there's no succesor state to the United States of America, also the entire area and population of the United States of America just disappeared (to another dimension?) making them unuseable and the United States of America can't be revive (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic for example, can still be revive right now and actually still exist in a different form). A few days (like 3 to 5 days) of confusion will happen, but then a week to a few weeks later things will stabilize and things will back to normal. While it's correct that there will be a period of instability (like wars, panic, etc), it will be relatively quite short. Personally, I doubt that it would took as long as far as years, since the era instability would be relatively quite short. It's most probable though in years, most people will forget the U.S.A. even exist in the first place (unless the mass media continuously remind the world's population). While the U.S.A. is a big and respectable country, people tend to overestimate its importance. Besides, the U.S.A.'s foreign policy tend be dictated more by foreign interest than its own self interest, so even if it's gone, another country will be used instead in its place. Anyway. The businesses that was done by the U.S.A. previously, will probably be pased down to the following countries: Financially (stock market, foreign exchange, etc) wise: U.K.., China, European Union, Japan. Military wise: China, Russia, India, Indonesia, Brazil, European Union. Resources wise: Russia, China, Indonesia, Brazil. Space program wise: China, Russia, India, Indonesia, Brazil, European Union, Japan. Personally, the U.N.O. probably had to elect either India or Indonesia as the permanent member of the security council to replace the U.S.A.. Of the two, Indonesia is much closer to resemble the U.S.A.. Even if India was the one elected, Indonesia still gonna be play a role anyway.

Answer 3

Because the media would rather feed the airheads that get off on who and or what Paris Hilton and the rest of those rich overpaid rehab bimbo's are doing!!!! Ever hear the song by Don Henley from the band The Eagles, "Dirty Laundry". That pretty much sums it up......It isn't "news worthy" these days my friend. Rapes, Tortures, Child Abductions, Murders, and the idiots that rule Hollywood and the Rap world is what sells the news and Rag Magazines.......Money, Money, Money, is the other reason....If it doesn't make the Station Money, it ain't gonna' get air time my friend........pathetic lots of things these days.......and we could talk till we're blue in the face, not gonna' do any good!!!...........Peace!

Answer 4

Most people don't really care about the countries south of our border, because they are not Hispanic. We do hear about Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia because they either have a lot of oil, they send millions of illegal aliens into our country, and/or they export most of the illegal drugs that Americans consume. Hugo Chavez is an ugly thug!

Answer 5

It works both ways from my experience, I lived in Colombia S.A for two years and really heard very little about the U.S...and many people there had the wrong impression of life in the U.S. so I believe its what side of the fence your on as to what is important...most people everywhere are to busy trying to survive in their own environment....and then the media only give's a glimpse of what the story really is so one gets wrong impression easily..

Answer 6

The public isn't getting the entire story until something "important" happens like Bush getting examined down there. Then again alot of the public doesn't care until they end up covering a politician's vacation. The news doesn't consist of anything important anymore, just lies stacked on top of more lies.

Answer 7

Because these issues are not interesting for the US and particularly Mexico Porto Rico no one gives a damn.

Sorry but it is true in the UK also.

Answer 8

I don't know. I don't see Latin countries teaching their kids about the US social issues.

Answer 9

same reason they are ignorant of social and political issues in their own country, no education.