Why do the people in the United States seldom hear about news events from Canada or México, 2 close neighbors?

Question

These two countries border the U.S.; yet, the people who grow up and live in the U.S. quite often know next to nothing about either of these two countries, current events within Canada or México, or anything about important people who live and rule either of these nations.

Doesn't this strike you as a bit odd?

Answer 1

Because here in the states, people are conceited and ignorant and don't care about other countries/people but their own..

Well, not EVERYONE, some (like me) do care...But that just doesn't make it to main stream media, if we want good, international news we have to look at other countries' news stations...I personally prefer BBC.

Answer 2

Great question and, as an American, -an old one at that- I'm consistently amazed at the lack of awareness and knowledge that my colleagues, peers, strangers have about our neighboring countries.  But then, I believe that xenophobia is an American phenomenon that comes from too much Apple pie and wearing of flag lapel pins.

Answer 3

I think that honestly, some of us just don't know any better. It's kind of the same reason that a majority of U.S. citizens only speak one language and will never leave the continental U.S. I'll admit that I was all that interested in the world outside of our borders until I went to college. Then I learned to speak Spanish and I traveled abroad a bit (emphasis on a bit since it was only to Mexico and only for six weeks), but once you get exposed to the rest of the world, you get a voracious appetite for it. However, saddly I'm still not as enlightened as I could be. While I keep tabs on Mexico and what's going on there, and I watch movies, sports and shows from there, I still have no real idea what's going on in Canada or China or Africa.

In the U.S. we're socialized to believe that we are the best country and everyone else should conform to us. That sadly let's us feel justified in blocking out the rest of the world. However, that simply leaves us bereft as we miss out on wonderful experiences. When I was in Mexico, the people knew who Barak Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, John McCain and the rest where. How many of us know who the president of Mexico is right now?

Answer 4

I realized the very same thing when I moved to another country. How little I knew about the neighboring countries. Besides NAFTA they are mentioned for very little else. Not in our history books or in school projects or anywhere. I think I learned more about Egypt, dinosaurs and Greek history. I dont know why they do that.