From:	David Cordy DCordy@****.com
Subject:	the value of education (was: Thoughts: Sourcebook Ideas)
Date:	Mon, 12 Jul 1999 15:19:34 -0700

> Don't be so surprised Greywolf, it seems most americans are taught
> things that
> have affected their little county or state, and that's about it. I've had
> Yanks as me
> if there's snow up here all year long, and they live just a couple of
> hours from the
> border.
>
> Even I get questions like: Having a polar bear or beaver as a pet / If
> I canoe to
> work / Do I live in an igloo all year long / Do we have cable / Do we have
> cars up
> here...
>
Ok, this finally got to me. I actually know a lot about geography, and math
and a lot of different subjects. And I am from the United States. And,
yes, I was self taught, because the education system occasionally has to
dumb things down for some (coddling the weak minded, IMO).

I live in California, and I talk to people all over the world. And I get
asked all the time, "What's the weather like?", and people are surprised
when I say anything but sunny. They all think that we live on the beach,
have great tans, surf, and use either a palm trees or cactus for a Christmas
tree. Oh, and we either live in Los Angeles or San Francisco.

> I mean we're on the same bloody continent! What little goes through
> people who
> ask such questions frighten me...
>
Generalization and stereotypes can happen anywhere that people don't look
beyond their own county (yes county not countRy) borders. Or, let the only
way they get to know a place or people be decided by mass media (t.v.,
movies, etc.).


> Ah, that rare commodity called Common Sense, why they call it common I
> have no
> idea, cause it sure is rare around here... :o)
>
It comes (and goes) with common courtesy. Aye. ;-)
> --
> Robert Ménard
>
DavidC