Churchill Was A Myth

[Cornfed Hick]

Nice to see that we Americans are not alone in having a substantial portion of our supposedly well-educated populace consist of ignorant morons:

LONDON (AFP) - Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

The survey found that 47 percent thought the 12th century English king Richard the Lionheart was a myth.

And 23 percent thought World War II prime minister Churchill was made up. The same percentage thought Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale did not actually exist.

Three percent thought Charles Dickens, one of Britain's most famous writers, is a work of fiction himself.

Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi and Battle of Waterloo victor the Duke of Wellington also appeared in the top 10 of people thought to be myths.

Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought the same of W. E. Johns' fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.

UKTV Gold television surveyed 3,000 people.

 

[Deano]

Surveys are always suspect in regards to the population sample, however. Even here in the US, you can tell that the people who "can't point out France on a map" are carefully chosen by the survey panel. I'd say 1% of the people I know couldn't accomplish that task.

For anyone in Britain to not know that Churchill existed though; quite a shame. It really wasn't very long ago.

 

[LooseCannon]

Surveys are always suspect in regards to the population sample, however. Even here in the US, you can tell that the people who "can't point out France on a map" are carefully chosen by the survey panel. I'd say 1% of the people I know couldn't accomplish that task.

Apparently that's the 1% that makes the Miss America contest.

 

[Cornfed Hick]

It gets worse than that.  I know a number of intelligent people with degrees from good universities who, when asked at a party how many states are in the U.S., responded: "52."    After informing them that the correct number was 50 and asking why they answered 52, most responded that they confused it with a deck of cards -- although one woman insisted that Puerto Rico and Guam were also states.  Some of them were drunk, but that's really no excuse. 

 

[LooseCannon]

I don't know, you saw what Miss South Carolina had to say, right?

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our [children].

 

[Cornfed Hick]

That was, indeed, an embarrassing performance.  However, I would bet that even Miss South Carolina is aware that there are 50 states. 

 

[Mmm...Donuts]

Well, if they want to know if Churchill was true is to watch the Aces High video 

But seriously, history is a very nice subject to understand, even if some points don't affect our lives, it enriches cultural understanding 

 

[Albie]

I guess I'd better add my thoughts bearing in mind it's regarding my fellow countrymen. The finding are indeed a little embarrassing, but as Deano pointed out the people surveyed can easily be identified and targeted beforehand, so to make their survey news. I don't know anyone that would come to any of the conclusions above - and I do know some stupid people - but I dare say they exist. And therefore, I would find it hard to believe that nearly a quarter of the UK population would think that Churchill was a myth.

But films like "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" can't help the uneducated. It will only confuse them.

 

[Onhell]

It is a testament to the educational system or lack thereof. When many national heroes are in fact fictitious or blown out of proportion, the general public could care less to keep track of who is who. I'm sure there are people out there that think James Bond is a real spy. You find said folk everywhere. As for the played out stereotype of American's having poor geographical skills (to mention, but one ) I have sadly found it to be true time and again, along with a rather poor grasp of history. Again, you find this everywhere though, as a friend of mine from Belgium thought I was making shit up when I told her about Paschendale aka the Third Battle of Ypres.... Thank you Iron Maiden

 

[Deano]

Apparently that's the 1% that makes the Miss America contest.

Ahhh LC, that was 1% of people I KNOW. It would actually be nice to really know Miss SC, I would happily teach her some "geograghy". 

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

Nice to see that we Americans are not alone in having a substantial portion of our supposedly well-educated populace consist of ignorant morons:

LONDON (AFP) - Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought the same of W. E. Johns' fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.

Seriously? Captain Bigglesworth? My oh my. Actually, I've read the majority of the books in the Biggles series ... my father collected loads of them when he was young.

I'll be posting mostly in this forum and not much in the Maiden Chat forum for the next months. I don't want to see any setlist spoilers and the MC is soon to be filled with discussions about the concerts ...

 

[SinisterMinisterX]

I'll be posting mostly in this forum and not much in the Maiden Chat forum for the next months. I don't want to see any setlist spoilers and the MC is soon to be filled with discussions about the concerts ...

The mods are on the case, as much as we can be. Every topic related to the tour will be clearly titled. Anything that can be considered a spoiler will be in tags. We've already given notice that anyone who fails to follow these rules will be BANNED, instantly.

However, I understand what you're saying. If someone does post a spoiler without warning, you may see it before the mods. Knowing that the offender is banned won't be much comfort if you've also learned that

Spoiler

Bwahaha, made you look.

is on the setlist.

 

[Onhell]

Ahhh LC, that was 1% of people I KNOW. It would actually be nice to really know Miss SC, I would happily teach her some "geograghy". 

Oh yeah, I'd tutor her too

 

[char_da_harlot]

It is a testament to the educational system or lack thereof. When many national heroes are in fact fictitious or blown out of proportion, the general public could care less to keep track of who is who. I'm sure there are people out there that think James Bond is a real spy. You find said folk everywhere. As for the played out stereotype of American's having poor geographical skills (to mention, but one ) I have sadly found it to be true time and again, along with a rather poor grasp of history. Again, you find this everywhere though, as a friend of mine from Belgium thought I was making shit up when I told her about Paschendale aka the Third Battle of Ypres.... Thank you Iron Maiden

I couldn't agree with you more Onhell!  This is what happens when you take geography out of the public school system?  Wait, they also took out art, drivers education, health and sex education.  When I went to school all the above subjects were actual classes, that lasted an hour or more.  Now it's a mix match combo divided between 45 min.  Lack, lacked and lacking!

 

[Cornfed Hick]

Americans are just as bad with their own domestic geography.  For example, I would hazard to guess that more residents of California could identify Great Britain on a globe than Delaware, and I would also guess that the vast majority of Americans couldn't say which is farther east, New Hampshire or Vermont, without looking at a map.  (It is New Hampshire.) 

In some respects, geography has gone the way of arithmetic.  Pulling up a map online is relatively effortless, and who actually does long division without using a calculator these days?  Even the brightest and best educated will forget what they no longer need to remember.  More troubling is the ignorance of important historical events and figures.  Not knowing who Winston Churchill is -- no matter if you are from Britain, the U.S., or anywhere else in the world -- is inexcusable. 

 

[LooseCannon]

I couldn't agree with you more Onhell!  This is what happens when you take geography out of the public school system?  Wait, they also took out art, drivers education, health and sex education.  When I went to school all the above subjects were actual classes, that lasted an hour or more.  Now it's a mix match combo divided between 45 min.  Lack, lacked and lacking!

To be fair, art was removed because of lack of funding, driver's ed was removed because of insurance reasons, and health and sex ed were removed because of political reasons: teaching abstinence only?  My ass.