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Americans Were Asked To Find North Korea On A Map And We’re Not Sure If The Result Is Hilarious Or Scary
Tensions between the USA and North Korea are almost at boiling point, and after a week full of not-so-subtle threats from both sides, a CNN-sponsored poll has found that 50% of Americans would support military action against the East Asian dictatorship. The only problem is that most of those same people can’t even find the place on a map.
Americans have long been mocked by the rest of the world for their lack of geographical knowledge, so Jimmy Kimmel decided to take international diplomacy to Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The results? It went about as well as asking a 3-year-old why the sky is blue. We’re just really glad these people aren’t in charge of firing any missiles.
Though the video, like almost everything Jimmy Kimmel does, was meant to be mostly funny, some people took it personally and defended the state of American geographical literacy (or, well, lack thereof). Watch the hilarious skit for yourself below (if you can find it), find out what people are saying about it, and add your own two cents at the end!
RELATED:
Jimmy Kimmel took to the streets of LA to ask random Americans a very important question
Some people just couldn’t believe what they were seeing
Others, however, decided to cut the States a break
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!
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What do you think ?
mocochang 8 years ago
The worst isn't the fact that they don't know where North Korea is, the worst is that they were pointing at places like Canada, Australia or all Europe. Seriously?? I don't blame the ones that pointed somewhere around Asia, but some were completely clueless about anything outside USA boders...
Nele 8 years ago
Exactly! It's hard to remember all those tiny countries but seriously, how is it possible not to know India, Australia or China?HOW can they point on Canada, its their own neighbour! I am just a kid who hasn't really learned the map on purpose, but I would have found North Korea...
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Merve YILMAZ 8 years ago
I am really sorry but this is true. - I was in Virginia with exchange program and working there. And there were other exchange students like me. ( from Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, China, Moldova, Romania etc.) One of our American colleague asked all of us: ' You guys all from Europe, right? We : Ummm.. kind of but no. She : Why dont you guys speak the same language? '' I couldn't even speak after that. How can i explain all the languages and the cultures and the nations. :( I was speechless.
Chris Copeland 8 years ago
It's unfortunate, but the only real way to fix this is more social studies. America seems only interested in teaching STEM nowadays.
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Candace Formosa 8 years ago
This is ridiculous. I guess I should let the people who pointed at Asia pass, but seriously... some others are pointing at North America. South America. Australia. However, this video was just for entertainment, and I'm interested in how many people actually knew where North Korea is.
Private Custard 8 years ago
I love the comment about the rest of the world not being able to identify where Georgia, Washington State etc are. That's like me asking an American where York, Peterborough, Glasgow etc are on a map of the UK. What's worrying though, is that they probably couldn't even point out the UK on a world map!
Cassie 8 years ago
In my state, geography is not a normal part of a public school education. I was angry that I missed out on that and when I was in high school (during the Cold War), I thought the continent of Africa was Russia. I was really embarrassed and bought a globe and studied it myself. I now homeschool my kids and made sure they got at least one geography course and we have a world map hanging over the couch in our living room. I don't get how we have year after year of history courses (mostly limited to our own state or the U.S.), but no geography courses. Understanding world geography is important!
cassiushumanmother 8 years ago
In France this is just History/Geography and since 1st grade to high school this is mandatory almost 2 hours for week for every kid/student.you can learn more by choice but the minimum is mandatory, and the minimum is capitals/countries/world map/beeing aware that worlds maps are differents for geographers, often not correct since this is geopolitical (the sizes of the countries are not real in the "world map as europeans and american learn...)
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Mary Kavanagh 8 years ago
Some guy in the comnents on the site is saying a lot of non Americans don't know where the various states in the US are. With respect, at least they know where the US is on the map. One woman was pointing to Canada, one to Australia and, irony of ironies, after decades of war in Iraq one woman pointed out the Middle East.
Sunhanut Sudprasert 8 years ago
More shocking thing is, some of them don't even know where Canada is...
Chris Copeland 8 years ago
It is funny. However knowing where Canada is located might be the only thing 95% of Americans know about Canada.
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lindsaymad2000 8 years ago
😂😂😂 the ppl who pointed at south America and Canada 😂😂😂. Bless their hearts.
Mikleo 8 years ago
New York made a survey asking 1,746 Americans of which only 36% were able to pinpoint North Korea. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/14/upshot/if-americans-can-find-north-korea-on-a-map-theyre-more-likely-to-prefer-diplomacy.html
Chuck Bartowski 8 years ago
Interesting survey and interesting results, particularly when you break it down into demographics. Thanks for sharing!
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Martin Vonšák 8 years ago
Everyone on the video are like "lets nuke them" and are pointing to Canada. They are not asking them where Azerbaijan is (with all respect) but where is country of their possible war enemy. I bet those people couldn't even point to Russia on map.
Linda Gulley 8 years ago
That actually made me angry. They have the audacity to want to take military action but know NOTHING about the country. I bet they couldn't name the leader!
Load More Replies... mocochang 8 years ago
The worst isn't the fact that they don't know where North Korea is, the worst is that they were pointing at places like Canada, Australia or all Europe. Seriously?? I don't blame the ones that pointed somewhere around Asia, but some were completely clueless about anything outside USA boders...
Nele 8 years ago
Exactly! It's hard to remember all those tiny countries but seriously, how is it possible not to know India, Australia or China?HOW can they point on Canada, its their own neighbour! I am just a kid who hasn't really learned the map on purpose, but I would have found North Korea...
Load More Replies... Merve YILMAZ 8 years ago
I am really sorry but this is true. - I was in Virginia with exchange program and working there. And there were other exchange students like me. ( from Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, China, Moldova, Romania etc.) One of our American colleague asked all of us: ' You guys all from Europe, right? We : Ummm.. kind of but no. She : Why dont you guys speak the same language? '' I couldn't even speak after that. How can i explain all the languages and the cultures and the nations. :( I was speechless.
Chris Copeland 8 years ago
It's unfortunate, but the only real way to fix this is more social studies. America seems only interested in teaching STEM nowadays.
Load More Replies... Candace Formosa 8 years ago
This is ridiculous. I guess I should let the people who pointed at Asia pass, but seriously... some others are pointing at North America. South America. Australia. However, this video was just for entertainment, and I'm interested in how many people actually knew where North Korea is.
Private Custard 8 years ago
I love the comment about the rest of the world not being able to identify where Georgia, Washington State etc are. That's like me asking an American where York, Peterborough, Glasgow etc are on a map of the UK. What's worrying though, is that they probably couldn't even point out the UK on a world map!
Cassie 8 years ago
In my state, geography is not a normal part of a public school education. I was angry that I missed out on that and when I was in high school (during the Cold War), I thought the continent of Africa was Russia. I was really embarrassed and bought a globe and studied it myself. I now homeschool my kids and made sure they got at least one geography course and we have a world map hanging over the couch in our living room. I don't get how we have year after year of history courses (mostly limited to our own state or the U.S.), but no geography courses. Understanding world geography is important!
cassiushumanmother 8 years ago
In France this is just History/Geography and since 1st grade to high school this is mandatory almost 2 hours for week for every kid/student.you can learn more by choice but the minimum is mandatory, and the minimum is capitals/countries/world map/beeing aware that worlds maps are differents for geographers, often not correct since this is geopolitical (the sizes of the countries are not real in the "world map as europeans and american learn...)
Load More Replies... Mary Kavanagh 8 years ago
Some guy in the comnents on the site is saying a lot of non Americans don't know where the various states in the US are. With respect, at least they know where the US is on the map. One woman was pointing to Canada, one to Australia and, irony of ironies, after decades of war in Iraq one woman pointed out the Middle East.
Sunhanut Sudprasert 8 years ago
More shocking thing is, some of them don't even know where Canada is...
Chris Copeland 8 years ago
It is funny. However knowing where Canada is located might be the only thing 95% of Americans know about Canada.
Load More Replies... lindsaymad2000 8 years ago
😂😂😂 the ppl who pointed at south America and Canada 😂😂😂. Bless their hearts.
Mikleo 8 years ago
New York made a survey asking 1,746 Americans of which only 36% were able to pinpoint North Korea. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/14/upshot/if-americans-can-find-north-korea-on-a-map-theyre-more-likely-to-prefer-diplomacy.html
Chuck Bartowski 8 years ago
Interesting survey and interesting results, particularly when you break it down into demographics. Thanks for sharing!
Load More Replies... Martin Vonšák 8 years ago
Everyone on the video are like "lets nuke them" and are pointing to Canada. They are not asking them where Azerbaijan is (with all respect) but where is country of their possible war enemy. I bet those people couldn't even point to Russia on map.
Linda Gulley 8 years ago
That actually made me angry. They have the audacity to want to take military action but know NOTHING about the country. I bet they couldn't name the leader!
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