Are Americans Really Stupid Versus the Rest of the World?

Trying to dispute the proposition that Americans are stupid when compared to the rest of the world is made increasingly more difficult when presented with, what appears to be, overwhelming evidence that it may well be true. How else can we explain the results of recent polls and surveys that suggest that 20 percent of American students cannot locate the United States on a map. Or how about fully one third of all Americans cannot locate Washington D.C? Most distressing is the fact that forty percent couldn't locate the Pacific Ocean. These results would be funny if they weren't so pathetic.

Perhaps the most damaging poll that I have seen is the one where consistently 56 percent of all Americans believe that Iraq led the attack against the United States on September 11, 2001. Surely there has to be a rationale explanation for such monumental stupidity? After all; to hold these beliefs six years after the event, with all of the media coverage and discussion to the contrary, has to require a level of stupidity that just can't come naturally. It has to be worked at and perfected. There must be a reason why so many of us just haven't bothered to find out the truth.

Which leads me to my main point. Americans are not more stupid then anyone else. We are, however, much lazier.

As one who was educated in both the United States and Canada, I am well positioned to observe some fundamental differences between us and the world. The University campus I attended in Canada was a diverse campus with students from over forty countries. Many a night was spent debating politics, philosophy, history and culture.

I was struck by one glaring difference between these students and many Americans. In a word: curiosity. People, in general, are interested in other viewpoints. They actively seek out diverse opinions, and they have an intimate knowledge of their own history, culture and place in the world. All of which distinguishes them from us.

Without a doubt, Americans are much more introspective (navel gazers if you will). We are much less interested in other countries or what they think because we're too busy being self absorbed. This is evidenced by one of the stupidest comments you are likely to hear and unfortunately you will hear it a lot. I'm am referring to that unique boast that "America is the best country in the world."

Really? How would they know? By what personal

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