Do Americans know very little about the rest of the world/Europe/The Netherlands?

Question

I am from the Netherlands (also called Holland) and the Americans I talk to always know very very little about other countries besides their own. A lot of them don't even know where The Netherlands are, while it's a pretty important country in Europe. Most Americans don't even know us, and the few who do mostly see us as a bunch of hicks that walk on wooden shoes, grow tulips, live in windmills and smoke pot. I even met a few who thought Amsterdam was a European country of that the Netherlands was a city in Europe. Also, we are very often confused with Germans, our neighbors, butt we have very different politics, culture, people, language.

What do you think about this? And what do you know about Europe and Holland? Have you any idea what it's like outside that big old island you live on?

Answer 1

I'm sorry but I find this question quite insulting to us, and specifically me. I happen to love geography and pay much attention to it so YES, I do know a LOT about other countries. This year, I got straight As in geography/history. I go to Greece every single year and I SWIM and FISH in the Mediterranean Sea. I know almost all of the countries in Europe as I had to list them on a history test. The conflict between Georgia and Russia was all over the news here (which I do happen to watch every single day) and my maternal grandfather was in World War II. He tells me stories which I tell to my friends.

I know you didn't mean it as a mean way, and please don't take my words in a bad way, but I just wanted to get my point across. Every country is different, and every country has different school schedules and content that the children need to learn. It's their choice if they actually CHOOSE to pay attention, and some people really do.

I hope this answered your question from me...and actually, thank you for posting it, because I need to brush up on my history a bit after a long summer vacation... :] God bless you!

**EDIT**

I'm sorry but I forgot to mention that I am Greek, English, and Dutch as well as American. And I DO care about my countries. Thank you.

Answer 2

I was under the impression that the U.S. was part of a continent, not an island.

And yes, there are a lot of us who are aware of what the world is like.

A nearby town just got done with their Scandinavian Heritage Festival.

And no few of us have been and served in other countries.

How's the Euro doing lately?

Answer 3

Why  would the Americans know you, the Dutch?  There are no DAF cars here since 40 years, Wisconsin makes cheese that's irresistable, the Dutch language isn't notably easy on the ears, and the Dutch aren't noticeably attractive people. So you're outta luck when it comes to the Amis "knowing" Holland.  Right?  Please don't howl about the lack of geographical imprecision because Den Hague, The Netherlands and Holland are blurred.

I know quite abit about Europe and Holland, having lived in Germany for many years and NOT as a soldier.  I visited Amsterdam via a long train ride one day.  There, I saw my first AIDS victim.  When we crossed the frontier back into Germany, the German police came out of nowhere and checked everybody under the age of 30.  Thank God, I looked reasonably straight, or, like just another Ami that couldn't wait to go home.  

It turns out, not ALL of Europe is in agreement with your country's tolerance

On a more local level, I am remembering a rather strange young woman who came to learn horse denistry from my free wheeling brother.  She was so opinionated and resolutely hateful of all things American that when she got here, saw the vastness of Virginia, Kentucky, of Chicago and New York, saw that we were a civilized lot who didn't go around burning Iraqi babies and made it a point to bathe daily and generally be law abiding citizens, she pulled her cork and flew back to Holland, where apparently she resumed her duties of helping her boyfriend package the heroin that he openly sells on the street.

Perhaps, Mimi, the Amis' obliviousness to your below sea level culture isn't an entirely bad thing.

*Edit 1*

We're very focussed, Mimi.  We're very focussed on you. The more you elaborate, the more you reveal your mission: masturbatory America bashing.  Quit screaming.  So the average Ami isn't concerned with the Dutch?  We DO admire Tulips from time to time, however, there's infinitely more to do than address the adolescent screams and pent up hatred of someone who's lived in a cacoon of cradle to grave security all their lives and is outraged that we're not overly impressed.

Answer 4

Unfortunately that is sadly true, but it's not only Americans who have no idea where other countries reside, it seems to be a world wide phenomenon. I myself thought that Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia was part of Argentina until I decided to immigrate to Australia and then to Brisbane! We learn every day! don't we?

Answer 5

My bf is dutch. ;o)  netherland is seems to be the most country that I find it so difficult to get the visa. but it's right of their government. there are too many immegrants? the most are turk, moroccan, yemenese, Indian and suliname? I'm not american. I'm caucasian part asian. and I like your country. I like creets weilder and I don't like "de orangeje." they like to take adventage from their poppulation and they are mixed with the german? my bf dosen't like german due to the worlds war 2 and he said the german did hit his father ( dutch).  

About the dutch ppl? I find they are various of ideas just like any other nations in this world.

Answer 6

In a word, "yes."

Terrific question -and I simply love how you've ruffled the feathers of some respondents.

Of course, my first comment must be that some of the responses (tone, defensiveness, castigating you for asking the question) are, to me [an American] quite the proof that not only do Americans know less about the rest of the world, they also get rather miffed (akin to teasing the junkyard dog) when their ignorance of geography, history, and the like is dared to be questioned.

As such, simply because you even asked this question -and stood toe-to-toe with the more or less unexamined responses, I'm adding you to my contact list.

Now for -I hope- a bit of an intelligent reply to your question.

Americans -generally- are reared under what I call the "de facto supremacy" model.  That is, from the earliest days of education to the sunset years of selecting just the right tombstone (it must be bigger and more expensive than the neighbor who just pased), Americans are inundated with this singular notion that no one -nor any country- on the planet is equivalent to them.  It's a sad commentary to say the least.

For me this is a result of failed leadership within every major institution (business, education, government, religion, social services, etc) in that there is no onus -or reward- for speaking truth to power.  As such, it becomes an endless dance around the truth ... a tango of half-truths ... a waltz of smoke and mirrors ... an upbeat tempo of illusion (e.g., the American Dream).

This charade begins in the public school system where the teaching of "facts" is secondary to the teaching of American Supremacy.  The teaching of World History is second -or nonexistant- to the teaching of American History (over and over again).  The teaching of a Global perspective is second to the indoctrination of an American perspective. The teaching of assessment, analysis, reflection, and thinking beyond the "self" is second to accepting, acquiescing, repeating, and honoring the propaganda of "America the Greatest" that is the daily staple.

So, to a degree, it's not the fault of our children, our students ... it's truly the fault of weak-kneed, ineffective, and compliant adults who, as much as they really do know better, refuse to "speak truth to power" and effect enough cultural change to shift America from a country of self-proclaimed independence (falsely applied) to a country that can see it's position -interdependently- with the 200-plus other nations and states of the world and come to know that 6.7 billion people occupy the one planet we all share in common -and that America's de facto supremacy (of 304 million people; less than 5% of the world's total population) is an outdated, ineffective concept.

Answer 7

Do you know that America is not just the States?

What do you know about Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Canada, and Mexico?

That's right NOTHING.

There are millions of U.S-Americans in the South West and Florida that are bilingual (English-Spanish). French is still spoken as a second language in Louisiana, I bet you didn't know that. Italian is spoken in New York and New Jersey. Mandarin is spoken by a lot of Chinese-Americans.

Yes, I do know the causes of WWI and WWII.

I am aware of the current conflict in Eurasia.

Very few cities look like Third World countries. Are you sure you are not confusing us for Poland or Albania?

Forgive us for not giving a d**n your country and continent.  

Answer 8

Not really. We are fed on American media and our own culture so unless it is on tv most don't think much about the rest of the world. Plus with politicians telling us how much better we are and how lucky we are to live in the greatest country in the world, people probably dont care what is out there. I do though... I think Holland is an amazing place and would love to see it. But it does kind of suck about having to pay for water to drink.