Is Not Knowing the Capital of Canada a Problem?

[Ladewig]

1. Canada is a very close neighbor to the USA and is its biggest trading partner. Most people in the UK, even the dumbest would know that Paris is the Capital of France and Berlin the Capital of Germany and Madrid is the Capital of Spain etc.

That might be a poor analogy. Those three capitals are the largest city in each of their respective countries. Plus, even UK football hooligans will recognize those capitals.

i have no tangible evidence, but it is possible that the average USer could name more Canadian cities than French, German, or Spanish cities. And I would say that it is quite likely that most USers could name more Canadian provinces than French, German, and Spanish provinces, regions, cantons, or whatever.

3. And that since the USA tends to play a large role in world affairs, for good and bad, it would be good to think that people who live there generally had a better/bigger understanding of the rest of the world. For me that starts with some basic geography, at least for educated people.

Perhaps I am being dense, but I am having a hard time thinking of an example of how not knowing the capital of Canada would affect the average American. I can imagine news stories saying "The Canadian government opposes such measures, [yadda, yadda, yadda] Ottawa maintains that the use of force wil exacerbate the situation [yadda]." From that context, most readers would be able to infer that Ottawa is the seat of the government. and while USers will come across stories saying, "Today, Washington announced new policies on [yadda]," I don't recall and news sources saying "Today, Ottawa announced new policies on [yadda]," without first mentioning something about the national Canadian government.

After all the WWII war films and doco's that have been made, I'd hope to think that the average American would know that London was the capital of the UK. After all, It was the capital of the biggest empire since the Romans and not too long ago at that.

One other major difference is that when USers watch British-made television, some character is always running up to London to address Parlament, or watch a moving picture show, or report to MI-5. But characters in Canadian TV shows rarely decide to motor down to Ottawa for the weekend. Is Ottawa even open on the weekends?

And before anyone gets too huffy, that is an anti-Ottawa joke, not an anti-Canada joke.

 

[carlitos]

Don't get me wrong, I've met some very dumb people in the UK. It's more about the general level of awareness of whats happening in the world and of other cultures for the general population. This like many other things could well be an example of what appears to be obvious or likely at first glance is really much more complicated and the reality is very different.

Traveling to Mallorca or Greece once a year and staying in English-speaking resorts with fellow Brits, eating an English breakfast everyday and getting **** faced every afternoon, or fly/drive vacations to Orlando or Las Vegas do give the Brits a superior knowledge of world affairs. Americans fall flat in this sense.

 

[BadBoy]

That might be a poor analogy. Those three capitals are the largest city in each of their respective countries. Plus, even UK football hooligans will recognize those capitals.

i have no tangible evidence, but it is possible that the average USer could name more Canadian cities than French, German, or Spanish cities. And I would say that it is quite likely that most USers could name more Canadian provinces than French, German, and Spanish provinces, regions, cantons, or whatever.

Agreed.

Perhaps I am being dense, but I am having a hard time thinking of an example of how not knowing the capital of Canada would affect the average American. I can imagine news stories saying "The Canadian government opposes such measures, [yadda, yadda, yadda] Ottawa maintains that the use of force wil exacerbate the situation [yadda]." From that context, most readers would be able to infer that Ottawa is the seat of the government. and while USers will come across stories saying, "Today, Washington announced new policies on [yadda]," I don't recall and news sources saying "Today, Ottawa announced new policies on [yadda]," without first mentioning something about the national Canadian government.

The thought I'm making though is that perhaps a general knowledge of simple facts of a Neighboring country/Trading Partner (like their Capital City) could be considered an indication of the general level of awareness of the world outside the USA. I was once asked where I was from while on holiday in the USA, when I said London England they asked me if that was on the East coast (of the USA). That of course is just an anecdote and not evidence of anything, but it did surprise me. It's not so much that the knowledge is particularly useful, more that its surprising that they wouldn't know it as a general piece of trivia. I mean I wouldn't expect them to know the Capital city of South Africa or maybe Turkmenistan.

One other major difference is that when USers watch British-made television, some character is always running up to London to address Parlament, or watch a moving picture show, or report to MI-5. But characters in Canadian TV shows rarely decide to motor down to Ottawa for the weekend. Is Ottawa even open on the weekends?

And before anyone gets too huffy, that is an anti-Ottawa joke, not an anti-Canada joke.

Ya, I agree. Lets go party in Ottawa. woohooo

 

[BadBoy]

Traveling to Mallorca or Greece once a year and staying in English-speaking resorts with fellow Brits, eating an English breakfast everyday and getting **** faced every afternoon, or fly/drive vacations to Orlando or Las Vegas do give the Brits a superior knowledge of world affairs. Americans fall flat in this sense.

That and I think the BBC news coverage is far superior to Fox and the History Channel etc.

Back when I lived in the UK I used to listen to Radio 4 while driving quite a bit. Sometimes there would be something on that I wouldn't find interesting. But often the programming was highly intelligent and thought provoking.

I dont know. Somethin and nothinn I guess.

For me the idea of a holiday in an English speaking resort with the idea of getting **** faced every afternoon never appealed. The best holiday I think I have ever had was traveling around California with just my wife. One day I'm going to get back to Yosemite and the Napa Valley. Loved it.

 

[carlitos]

I listen to BBC World Service every day, and I'm an American. Fair point on the news coverage.

Still, the fact that Americans don't need a passport to go surfing or skiing isn't our own fault. UKians that leave their country to go to warm places aren't exactly known for immersing themselves in the culture, except for the local tipple.

 

[jimbob]

I listen to BBC World Service every day, and I'm an American. Fair point on the news coverage.

Still, the fact that Americans don't need a passport to go surfing or skiing isn't our own fault. UKians that leave their country to go to warm places aren't exactly known for immersing themselves in the culture, except for the local tipple.

That's probably a bit unfair. There are a number who don't but, my impression is that for a lot, the culture, or at least seeing the sites, which say, in Greece or Turkey, often are ancient monuments.

British people are probably less parochial now it isn't the world's superpower.

 

[thatpurpleguy]

So, are you saying that if education were improved, it would not increase the number of people who would know the capital of Canada?

Is that what you are saying?

No, I'm saying what I said.

Although it isn't a difficult question, it has no bearing on the state of education.

 

[Jango]

Every wrestling fan knows the capital of Canada -- Stu Hart's infamous dungeon, of course.