Is Not Knowing the Capital of Canada a Problem?

[theprestige]

What advantage indeed? I've heard of "limited government" but this is taking things a bit far. So why does the average Canadian even need to know where the capital of his country is? What about the Canadians who live there?

Yes, what about Canadians who live in Ottawa?

Finish these hypothetical Ottawan sentences:

"I live in Ottawa, which is my nation's capital, and the advantage I gain from knowing that it's my nation's capital is _________."

"I live in Ottawa, which is my nation's capital, and it's important that you know I live in my nation's capital because _________."

 

[The Fallen Serpent]

I think sometimes people forget that the USA and Canada are both rather large, and the US population easily swallows that of the Canadian population. Harvard students not knowing the minutia of a place they are not likely to directly interact with is not unusual. Yes, most Germans will know the capital of France, but how many know the capital of Moldova? Or Liechtenstein? It is a matter of practice. In many ways, Americans will seem ignorant of the wider world for the very fact that media tends to flow outward more heavily compared to most other nations. The capital of Canada, while not unimportant, is neither practical nor a major part of the general consciousness of Americans. Personally, I suspect Americans in general are more knowledgeable about the UK than Canada, just for the very fact that it is more noticeable when discussing or viewing something British compared to something Canadian from an American point of view. The relationship is not dissimilar to that between California and Oregon. Oregonians tend to know a lot about California, Californians tend not to know much about Oregon.

 

[The Shrike]

Again, I'm not trying to make light of Canada, but it is a relatively unimportant country as far as most US citizens are concerned. Nothing that could plausibly happen there will have any effect on the lives of more than a few people living here in the States.

I agree with you as far as the day to day lives of people in the States, but I see that as more Americans just being ignorant of how their lives are affected every day by things that happen in Canada. The most gung-ho patriots in the States should darn well understand the role that Canada plays as a partner in the War on Terror, for example. Folks in the States should understand that the vast majority of "foreign oil" we import comes from Canada. History buffs should give Canada (specifically Newfoundland) props for working with us to keep trans-Atlantic trade (relatively) safe from German U-boat attack during WWII.

I see it as a problem that we're so insulated from the outside world that we don't know basic facts about a bordering country with a long history of being one of our most staunch allies in global affairs.

That said, I always second guess myself in these discussions because Americans seem like dolts because we know so comparatively little about other countries, yet in Europe the different countries are as geographically linked as our various states. Language and cultural differences notwithstanding, is the knowledge of France owned by the average man on the street in Leeds any more impressive than the knowledge of Colorado owned by the average man on the street in Milwaukee?

 

[Steve]

Plenty. The precise nature of UKian self-identity, and the actual name of the capital of Canada, just happen to be relatively low-priority, in my opinion.

I mean, what advantage does a Brazilian or a Ukrainian or a Nigerian gain, from knowing the name of the capital of Canada or the US, or the ins and outs of UK regional distinctions?

Hell, what advantage does the average Canadian gain, from knowing the name of the capital of Canada.

Probably about the same as the advantage the average American US resident gets from knowing the name of the capital of the US. I'm sure that there are millions of US residents who, when they vote in a federal election, only know that they are voting for someone who will represent them in "a place that is not here, but somewhere else" because there is no advantage to them in knowing the name of that place.

 

[Craig B]

Yeah, but that's a bad example because everyone knows Paris as it is by far the largest city in France.

A better one would be for people to identify the capital of Switzerland. Or both capitals of The Netherlands.

I bet educated Germans and Belgians can do that too. At least they wouldn't regard it as obscure and trivial knowledge, which is my main point.

 

[Modified]

Probably about the same as the advantage the average American US resident gets from knowing the name of the capital of the US. I'm sure that there are millions of US residents who, when they vote in a federal election, only know that they are voting for someone who will represent them in "a place that is not here, but somewhere else" because there is no advantage to them in knowing the name of that place.

Basically, there is no advantage, but advantage is irrelevant. They know it because they are constantly bombarded by the information.

 

[erwinl]

Yeah, but that's a bad example because everyone knows Paris as it is by far the largest city in France.

A better one would be for people to identify the capital of Switzerland. Or both capitals of The Netherlands.

Bern

And we only got one capital, by the way. We just don't allow the government in it. Not permanently at least. And neither is the King a residential of the capital.

We've got two large cities who both have the ego and attitude for a capital. One, though, already has one of the largest harbours in the world, so we had to give the title of capital to the other one. Or else they just wouldn't shut up.
To balance things we put the government smack in the middle between them.
That way the rest of the country can go their way without being bothered by them.

 

[Corsair 115]

No offense intended towards Canadians, but it's a relatively unimportant country to most Americans.

And therein lies the issue. Because in reality, if one examines the U.S. trade data, one finds that Canada is a rather important trading partner for the United States.

In terms of petroleum, Canada is the #1 supplier to the U.S., well ahead of #2 Saudi Arabia. (In 2012, Canada accounted for 28% of U.S. crude oil imports; Saudi Arabia, 16.0%. Indeed, Canada provided more barrels of crude oil to the U.S. than did all the Persian Gulf nations combined.)

In terms of foreign trade, Canada buys more U.S. exports than any other country, accounting for 18.9% of the total dollar value of U.S. exports in 2012. (Mexico was second at 14.0% and China third at 7.1%.)

The governors of U.S. border states understand well the importance of Canada to their states' economies and are among the first to raise dissent over any legislation in Washington which might impede the flow of people and goods across the U.S.-Canada border.

 

[joesixpack]

I bet educated Germans and Belgians can do that too. At least they wouldn't regard it as obscure and trivial knowledge, which is my main point.

This very much depends on your definition of "Educated". Typical high school graduates of most European nations would likely have some difficulty with capitols of the nations like Moldova. I'm less concerned with a graduating students familiarity with a list of "facts" than I am with their ability to reason well. Facts are things you pick up as you go along, and the important ones will stick with you. Unimportant things today may become important tomorrow, but the ability to take on new facts as they becomes relevant is something just about every human has.

 

[joesixpack]

And therein lies the issue. Because in reality, if one examines the U.S. trade data, one finds that Canada is a rather important trading partner for the United States.

In terms of petroleum, Canada is the #1 supplier to the U.S., well ahead of #2 Saudi Arabia. (In 2012, Canada accounted for 28% of U.S. crude oil imports; Saudi Arabia, 16.0%. Indeed, Canada provided more barrels of crude oil to the U.S. than did all the Persian Gulf nations combined.)

In terms of foreign trade, Canada buys more U.S. exports than any other country, accounting for 18.9% of the total dollar value of U.S. exports in 2012. (Mexico was second at 14.0% and China third at 7.1%.)

The governors of U.S. border states understand well the importance of Canada to their states' economies and are among the first to raise dissent over any legislation in Washington which might impede the flow of people and goods across the U.S.-Canada border.

And as I said, there is nothing plausible that will happen in Ottawa that will radically alter those oil exports. Will there be a Canadian oil embargo? I think not. For the average American, there is little likely to happen in the Canadian government that will effect them. Like I said in another post, what is unimportant today may become important tomorrow. If Canada declares war on another country, believe me, Americans will take the 30 seconds it takes to reacquaint themselves with the capital to the north.

 

[Mudcat]

In the context of your question about Africa's capital, it is clear that you are sloppy about accuracy when it comes to geography.

More like incomplete, not sloppy. But this goes back to the original idea. What do I, or most people, gain by knowing that Africa is continent and not a country? What is the incentive to memorize all the capitals of America, never mind a foreign country? Why should we hold on to a fact that will never be important outside a game of Trivial Pursuit, or Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, or something similar?

 

[Craig B]

This very much depends on your definition of "Educated". Typical high school graduates of most European nations would likely have some difficulty with capitols of the nations like Moldova. I'm less concerned with a graduating students familiarity with a list of "facts" than I am with their ability to reason well. Facts are things you pick up as you go along, and the important ones will stick with you. Unimportant things today may become important tomorrow, but the ability to take on new facts as they becomes relevant is something just about every human has.

Moldova, to be sure. Montenegro, to be sure. (Although I bet the citizens of neighbouring states have that information.) Canada is the only northern neighbour of the USA, and a huge and rich country, an ally and a major trading partner. It is important today, and will by all rational expectations be important tomorrow.

 

[Professor Yaffle]

Most of that sort of knowledge isn't that useful in and of itself, unless you count not seeming ignorant in conversation with others. The knowledge is more of a proxy for whether you are interested and curious about the world, and well read. It's similar to whether you know the names of Shakespeare plays, or general historical facts etc. Most fairly intelligent people will have the odd gap because we can't all be interested in everything (my history knowledge lets me down, but not embarrassingly so). But if someone seems to have gaps in general knowledge in lots of different areas, I will probably conclude they are not very curious about the world around them and I would struggle to keep up a friendship with them.

 

[joesixpack]

Moldova, to be sure. Montenegro, to be sure. (Although I bet the citizens of neighbouring states have that information.) Canada is the only northern neighbour of the USA, and a huge and rich country, an ally and a major trading partner. It is important today, and will by all rational expectations be important tomorrow.

Did something change there recently that would have made it a news item effecting most young Harvard students? Effecting many citizens of the US?

No.

When I lived in Southern California I never watched the weather reports because they were pretty static. I live in the Pacific Northwest now, so you better believe that I pay attention to the forecast.

 

[Craig B]

Did something change there recently that would have made it a news item effecting most young Harvard students? Effecting many citizens of the US?

No.

When I lived in Southern California I never watched the weather reports because they were pretty static. I live in the Pacific Northwest now, so you better believe that I pay attention to the forecast.

Yes but prior to moving house, did you know that the weather is more changeable in the Pacific Northwest than in S California? I bet you did.

 

[joesixpack]

And just to put this in perspective, the state of California's GDP is greater than Canada's. Canada may be the US's largest single trading partner, but it is not what drives the US economy. I'm not suggesting that if Canada shut down her borders it wouldn't have an effect on the US economy, it certainly would. Is that likely to happen? No. Canada is as predictable as June weather in Los Angeles, that's why no one pays attention to her.

 

[joesixpack]

Yes but prior to moving house, did you know that the weather is more changeable in the Pacific Northwest than in S California? I bet you did.

Certainly I did, and if I planned on emigrating to Canada, or entering into a business relationship with a Canadian corporation, I would likely take the effort to learn more about the country. It's just not important to most Americans.

I'm not saying people shouldn't know this, I'm not arguing for ignorance. I'm just saying it's not at all surprising that some American University students don't know what amounts to little more than a trivia question.

 

[Cayvmann]

I'll defer to Albert on this one:

“Never memorize something that you can look up.”


― Albert Einstein

 

[Polaris]

As any Canadian will tell you, "America" is short for the USA. Canada is part of North America, but don't tell us that we're part of America, or that we are Americans.

I wouldn't suggest trying it with Colombians, Mexicans or Brasilians either.

 

[Travis]

I bet educated Germans and Belgians can do that too. At least they wouldn't regard it as obscure and trivial knowledge, which is my main point.

I wouldn't think of it as obscure knowledge (all my friends would know and most of them have never even been out of the state of California) but it likely is trivial.

I mean I made sure to know such things but I never thought of it as vital information.

Bern

And we only got one capital, by the way. We just don't allow the government in it. Not permanently at least. And neither is the King a residential of the capital.

We've got two large cities who both have the ego and attitude for a capital. One, though, already has one of the largest harbours in the world, so we had to give the title of capital to the other one. Or else they just wouldn't shut up.
To balance things we put the government smack in the middle between them.
That way the rest of the country can go their way without being bothered by them.

So that's how it happened.