Things that Make Me Sad
This happened a little while ago, but...
It was about the time Sarah Palin made that wonderful little gaffe about Africa. Apparently she was unaware that it was a continent? I didn't follow the story or listen to the recordings of the little conversational snafu. I mostly just don't care about Sarah Palin stories all that much.
But other people apparently do. They care so much that they talk about her in their free time. I honestly have trouble fathoming why. And it was one of those conversations about Mrs. Palin that made me very sad.
It was in a new bookstore & cafe with a steampunk theme. A couple of 20-something kids were talking about current events. At some point they mentioned the Africa gaffe and we all had a chuckle at the WTF-ery of someone not knowing the name of a continent. And then I opened my mouth -
"I'm guessing that this couldn't have even been a moment of confusion between the country or the continent."
This is met with blank stares from the 20-somethings. So I elaborate.
"Y'know, South Africa vs. Africa. That country... in the south of Africa..."
They continue to look confused and I begin to wonder if someone is playing a joke on me. Finally one of them speaks.
"There's a country called South Africa?" He turns to his companion who responds with a shrug.
I nod, "Y'know, Nelson Mandela, Apartheid, the World Cup..."
"Learn something new everyday." She says.
I just blink for a moment because they are not being sarcastic. They are actually serious. Worse yet, they are actual high school graduates.
It was about the time Sarah Palin made that wonderful little gaffe about Africa. Apparently she was unaware that it was a continent? I didn't follow the story or listen to the recordings of the little conversational snafu. I mostly just don't care about Sarah Palin stories all that much.
But other people apparently do. They care so much that they talk about her in their free time. I honestly have trouble fathoming why. And it was one of those conversations about Mrs. Palin that made me very sad.
It was in a new bookstore & cafe with a steampunk theme. A couple of 20-something kids were talking about current events. At some point they mentioned the Africa gaffe and we all had a chuckle at the WTF-ery of someone not knowing the name of a continent. And then I opened my mouth -
"I'm guessing that this couldn't have even been a moment of confusion between the country or the continent."
This is met with blank stares from the 20-somethings. So I elaborate.
"Y'know, South Africa vs. Africa. That country... in the south of Africa..."
They continue to look confused and I begin to wonder if someone is playing a joke on me. Finally one of them speaks.
"There's a country called South Africa?" He turns to his companion who responds with a shrug.
I nod, "Y'know, Nelson Mandela, Apartheid, the World Cup..."
"Learn something new everyday." She says.
I just blink for a moment because they are not being sarcastic. They are actually serious. Worse yet, they are actual high school graduates.