5 ms·

I do find it odd that ~80% of Americans can't point out Iran on a map.

by kumarski 9mo ago

arjie 9mo ago
Illinois has 12 m people and a GDP over $1 trillion. I doubt most foreigners could place it on a map. There is no significant difference that it is part of a federation and Iran is not. People oversell these kind of Instagram sound-bites. It's really not a big deal. I'd suspect most Americans have a relationship with far-off suffering the same as me: it's sad and I think we should contribute to alleviating it, but if I encounter sufficient sanctimony about it I'd rather go live my life.
- RobertoG 9mo ago
  The problem is: that could be the relation that most Americans have with Iran, but, unfortunately, it's not the relation that USA has with Iran.
- epolanski 9mo ago
  No offense but you can't compare a us state to one of the most important and ancient countries on the planet.
- don_esteban 9mo ago
  Now, compare the cultural history of Illinois and Iran/Persia. And yes, being a part of federation does make a lot of difference. How many China provinces can you name? (Not even asking you to point them on the map).
- niemandhier 9mo ago
  The parent comment is provocative and impolite, so you are right to refute it. On the other hand, I’d like to point out that few countries have foreign policies as obsessed with Illinois as the US government is with Iran. The average person probably also has no political opinion on Illinois or their governments policy with respect to Illinois, something which I would assume to be different with respect to Iran in the US.
  - TiredOfLife 9mo ago
    Illinois is not currently supplying drones and rockets to russia. Is not financing terrorist organizations around the world
kumarski 9mo ago
I didn't make the metric. Got downvotes, not sure why. https://www.newsweek.com/poll-americans-cant-locate-iran-map-1481346 https://www.newsweek.com/poll-americans-cant-locate-iran-map...

5 ms·

I do find it odd that ~80% of Americans can't point out Iran on a map.

by kumarski 9mo ago

I do find it odd that ~80% of Americans can't point out Iran on a map.

arjie 9mo ago
Illinois has 12 m people and a GDP over $1 trillion. I doubt most foreigners could place it on a map. There is no significant difference that it is part of a federation and Iran is not. People oversell these kind of Instagram sound-bites. It's really not a big deal. I'd suspect most Americans have a relationship with far-off suffering the same as me: it's sad and I think we should contribute to alleviating it, but if I encounter sufficient sanctimony about it I'd rather go live my life.
- RobertoG 9mo ago
  The problem is: that could be the relation that most Americans have with Iran, but, unfortunately, it's not the relation that USA has with Iran.
- epolanski 9mo ago
  No offense but you can't compare a us state to one of the most important and ancient countries on the planet.
- don_esteban 9mo ago
  Now, compare the cultural history of Illinois and Iran/Persia. And yes, being a part of federation does make a lot of difference. How many China provinces can you name? (Not even asking you to point them on the map).
- niemandhier 9mo ago
  The parent comment is provocative and impolite, so you are right to refute it. On the other hand, I’d like to point out that few countries have foreign policies as obsessed with Illinois as the US government is with Iran. The average person probably also has no political opinion on Illinois or their governments policy with respect to Illinois, something which I would assume to be different with respect to Iran in the US.
  - TiredOfLife 9mo ago
    Illinois is not currently supplying drones and rockets to russia. Is not financing terrorist organizations around the world
kumarski 9mo ago
I didn't make the metric. Got downvotes, not sure why. https://www.newsweek.com/poll-americans-cant-locate-iran-map-1481346 https://www.newsweek.com/poll-americans-cant-locate-iran-map...