Thread: Political Quiz

I also find it interesting that all us NON-US citizens can even have an opinion in regard to US politics - I mean, could any of you Americans vote on a political poll about Australian, European, UK, etc. politics ? I bet not.

Freo, that is SO TRUE! Without ANY hesitation I can say that for the last ten years it never has ceased to amaze me just how many non American expats and visitors to Bali are so “in tune,” knowledgeable, and informed with what’s going on in America, and in particular, the US impact on a myriad of global issues.

I have absolutely no doubt that I could put together a group of five expats in just an hour of phone calls, who come from Australia, Germany, Holland, England, and Switzerland, and they would blow the socks off of the vast majority of Americans in their knowledge of American history, culture, and world related issues. That “vast majority” could sorrowfully include current college seniors and post graduate students at most any American university.

And yes, that imaginary group of American contestants, (myself included) would do far worse (if that can be imagined) on knowledge of issues of current and of particular interest to rest of the world from their perspective. Sadly, that’s no surprise.

This is a reality and an embarrassment that I have been living with for the past ten years, and that embarrassment is personal. It’s personal because I am an American, and my own background, education, and knowledge of the rest of the world largely came from what I learned as a kid, and up until I turned 18. I didn’t learn much then, and it wasn’t until my first trip to Europe, on a classic Thomas Cooke tour in 1968 that my eyes started to open.

Not to digress, but I often wonder what the vast number of American troops in Iraq, where we clearly don’t belong anyway...think of the Iraqi people? I can surely guess, and it wouldn’t be much different than the way we thought of the Vietnamese either. Interesting though how many Vietnam vets chose to go back there in recent years.

If I say any of this to any of my “non world traveler” friends back in the states, they just don’t believe me. One “old friend” now considers me a communist and a traitor. My own sister, almost five years older than me, called our first born son Bima, a “half breed” when I wrote her 8 years ago to share our great news. As you might understand, I haven’t any contact with her since.

In many ways, moving to Bali long ago was not only a mind opener with my adopted Balinese culture, but also, it was, and continues to be, a mind opener for my own culture. It is that later part that is so sad. One could call my move here, and my years since, an American catharsis.

I remain an American, and I remain proud to be an American. I have not, nor ever will, abdicate my American roots. Frankly, I think the world patience with us over the last eight years is from the recognition and profound thanks that many other countries have for our past sacrifices and willingness to be a good neighbor. If we don’t wake up, that will wear thin, and soon. Reliance and trust on us is waning world wide, and that will only increase over time.

IMHO, great insight Freo, and while your words might be taken by some Americans in the wrong way...they surely weren’t by me.

Originally Posted by Roy

This is a reality and an embarrassment that I have been living with for the past ten years, and that embarrassment is personal. It’s personal because I am an American, and my own background, education, and knowledge of the rest of the world largely came from what I learned as a kid, and up until I turned 18. I didn’t learn much then, and it wasn’t until my first trip to Europe, on a classic Thomas Cooke tour in 1968 that my eyes started to open

But why doesn't the US educate its citizens more about the rest of the world? Why is it not part of your education system and encouraged in every day life? You have lots of immigrants (who have added their uniqueness to the collective :wink: ) that surely would have introduced other cultures and ideas to the US, which in turn stimulates curiosity to learn about other people and cultures.

One of the things that is so scary about the US is that it is so insular - with the vast majority of its citizens ignorant to the rest of the world, and in particular how the US impacts the rest of the world. The US seems to be so proud of their way of life, and I've heard it described as the 'best' in many ways on Amercian television - yet compared to what? How can a country say they have the best system when they are so ignorant of others?
I don't expect you to answer that Roy, but it just gets me sometimes when I hear that sort of propaganda.

Originally Posted by Bert

Since the US is interfering with politics all over the world, secretly or or not, its not more than logical

Sure Bert, but it is not recriprocated - for example, when the USSR was inteferring in world politics just as much as the USA, I'm pretty sure the average Joe in the US would have been hard placed to name the major political players in the USSR or know anything about their political system (except that they were a bunch of commies that needed to be stopped).


Also, sorry to any US citizens if what I've written is offensive - it is not meant to be - I know that what I've said is a vast generalisation and that there are many, many US citizens who do know quite a lot about the rest of the world, vastly more than me I would suggest. But it is the teeming masses that I'm referring to I guess, and I think the views I've expressed are pretty true.

But why doesn't the US educate its citizens more about the rest of the world?

That's your question.

And in your own words, here is your answer:

One of the things that is so scary about the US is that it is so insular

Why it is so insular is beyond me to understand. As someone recently pointed out on the US election string, the number of Americans without passports, or ever visiting a foreign country is staggering.