Are you smarter than a 5th grader or Kellie Pickler?

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To label Ms. Pickler a "non-intellectual" for having never heard of Budapest or Hungary or thinking Europe is a country is being too gentle; after all, if what Susan Jacoby argues is true--that many Americans have an aversion to being educated--then it would be a compliment. But, to respond to Eva's comment, I don't think Jacoby is picking on Americans for their lack of curiosity about the outside world. If Americans cared more about what was happening outside of its borders, then there would be a less apathetic response among Americans to the U.S. government's often over-reaching, flawed foreign policies (i.e. illegally invading countries, organizing coups, and supporting dictatators because it benefits American corporations). An educated citizenry would be better for all of us, and an embarrisingly large percentage of Americans have a sub-standard knowledge of the rest of the world. It's an embarrassment that many Americans are so comfortable with living in ignorance. Susan Jacoby is trying to address the problem. And, since that Times article ran, it seems to be getting a lot of well-deserved attention.

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