Geography-related Questions 11-20

THE QUESTION:
G20: I came to the United States from Japan and have wondered why Americans use measurements such as the mile, pound and gallon. Is it true that after World War II, Americans recommended the Japanese use measurements such as the meter, gram and liter? If so, why?
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
Yasu <nyasu@hotmail.com>, San Francisco, CA
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THE QUESTION:
G19: I come from Japan, which doesn’t have any custom for giving tips for service. When and why did this custom start in the United States?
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
Takeo F. <Takeo Fukuda@amat.com>, San Francisco, CA
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THE QUESTION:
G18: Why are violent movies more acceptable to Americans than erotic ones?
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
Young Mi, 24, and Stephan, 27, San Francisco, CA

ANSWER 1:
Though there is perhaps no definitive answer, Leslie Fiedler, in his study of this topic (Love and Death In the American Novel) points out that the erotic (sexual) was a no-no topic, not to be written about or discussed, because of our long traditin of religion, going back to our Puritan ancestors, whereas violence came to our shores with the first settlers – Columbus and fellow explorers, first seizing Indian lands, and then in the move Westward, using the gun to settle arguments and problems before the West was (sort of ) tamed. Thus we have had The Right to Bear Arms since our Founding Fathers (and before), but the Right to Bear (bare) condoms came about only more recently.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Fred, East Coaster, white, over 60 <flap@mindspring.com>, CT
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THE QUESTION:
G17: Do most men from Guyana or Trinidad who are Indian abuse their significant other and, if so, do they think they are superior to women?
POSTED JULY 24, 1998
Toni G., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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THE QUESTION:
G16: I am curious about people’s conception of Australia, our culture, our wildlife, etc. A lot of people, especially Americans, seem very ignorant about our way of life. How does the world see Australia, especially recently?
POSTED JULY 17, 1998
Frances S., 16 <novacaine@rocketmail.com>, Sydney, Australia

ANSWER 1:
To many living in other nations, Australia is a faraway place. To travel there by air from most cities in the United States, we must plan on a two-day trip. Australia has many exotic animals and plants nonexistent in other parts of the world. You also have a history that is rich and wonderful (i.e. Dickens’ Great Expectations). For our 25th wedding anniversary, my husband and I traveled to your wonderful land and found it to be beautiful and exciting. It was a dream come true. One of the most memorable experiences was snorkeling off the great barrier reef. I will never forget the breathtaking beauty of this area. So to answer your question: recent movies such as Crocodile Dundee and Quigley Down Under have done a lot to promote your country and people worldwide. Songs such asWaltzing Matilda have done even more. There is much mystery to your continent, and most of us think of you as a mystery. I am one of the fortunate ones who has been able to say, “I was there.”
POSTED JULY 23, 1998
Linda, Birmingham, Al

FURTHER NOTICE:
My view of the culture of Australia is a little like the old American West, a little more wild and lawless than most other parts of the world. While I am sure your cities have the same population, crime and pollution problems, as well as the same modern transportation and communications conveniences as most other cities in the first world, I have heard two not-so-great things about the more rural areas: 1) It is not a good place for businesswomen, as there is still much gender discrimination, and 2) hasty, unresearched introduction of foreign species of animals has wreaked havoc on your ecosystems.
POSTED JULY 23, 1998
Ellyn, 28, Connecticut

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I think most Americans don’t give Australia a second thought, other than as a place full of kangaroos and a few singers and movie directors. That attitude has always made me wince – I lived there for four years and my mother, stepfather and sister still live there. So I know it’s much more complex than most Americans give it credit for, with lots of good – beaches, friendly people, progressive cities and stunning beauty – and some bad as well, with racism (official and unofficial) that rivals anything in the United States. On the whole, I have a lot of affection for Australia, and miss it quite a bit.
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
Andrew, 34, former Australian resident <ziptron@hotmail.com>, Huntington, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I think most Americans have a romanticized view of Australia, mainly because it reminds us of our own history. There is a taste of the Wild West in our perceptions of Australia – taming the wilderness, men against nature, that sort of thing. Americans historically see themselves as rugged individualists, and I think we see Australians in the same light. We like the idea of a few outcasts braving a harsh environment to create a new country, because it reminds us of ourselves. We don’t see much emotional distance between Jamestown and Botany Bay.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Laura, 37, white American female, MD

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
As an American, I can say I would love to visit Australia. It seems to be such a beautiful country. Although I can say I don’t know much about your way of life, it’s gorgeous and I’d leave for it in a second!
POSTED NOV. 19, 1998
Jessica B., 14, white female <Joseph_Best@firstclass.rit.edu>, Rochester, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I am unable to speak for all Americans, but I will share my impressions of Australia. I think our nations have evolved along similar lines as former colonies of the UK and settled by significant numbers from its lower classes. Your nation is slightly younger, with a lower population and fewer resources. Having known only one person from your nation, generalizations are a bit difficult, but my impression is that you have as little taste for pomp as we do (a reaction to England?) and feel a bit left out of the political and cultural mainstream. This was an American obsession a century ago, and your colony is about 100 years younger than ours so I suppose that fits. I hope you don’t read into this response a patronizing tone, as none is intended. The truth is, I feel that given the diversity of cultures and civilizations on this planet, it must be admitted that we are very similar. Our cultures vary slightly, but we are part of the same civilization.
POSTED NOV. 21, 1998
Kevin, 28, American <hotemet@aol.com>, AZ

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
As an American who has many friends from Australia, my experiences with people from Down Under all have been positive. Due to its landscape and climate, living in Australia can be very difficult, particularly for the farmers who face bushfires, drought, flooding and pests. Oz can be an expensive place in which to live. Compact discs, for example, cost about $30 each (inclluding 22 percent tax). Australians, for the most part, are very well-educated, hard-working and face troubles common to people wherever they happen to live. And they love their prawns (shrimp), chook (chicken), Vegemite (yeast extract), pavlova (a meringue dessert), and of course, barbies! Besides marsupials, Australia also is home to flying foxes (large fruit bats), poisonous snakes such as taipans and tiger snakes, large lizards called goannas, and funnel-web and red-back spiders (similar to black widows in Niorth America).
POSTED DEC. 28, 1998
Jackie, 40, Japanese-American <vegemate@yahoo.com>, Chicago, IL
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THE QUESTION:
G15: In the U.S. legal system, why is it that a person accused in a criminal court of a crime and found not guilty can be sued in a civil court for the same matter and be found guilty (i.e. O.J. Simpson)? Here in Australia, I have not been able to find anybody to satisfactorily explain this to me.
POSTED JULY 16, 1998
Joachim (Jock) F., 56 <finckej@au1.ibm.com>, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

ANSWER 1:
Two different issues were at play in that situation. O.J.’s criminal trail was for the charges of murder of the two victims. His civil trail was to see if he was personally liable for the two victims. Two different things. O.J. is legally considered not guilty of murder but was determined responsible for their fate.
POSTED JULY 24, 1998
John K., 25, straight Irish-American male, <the-macs@geocities.com>, Cranford, N.J.

FURTHER NOTICE:
The guidelines for finding someone guilty in a criminal court are different from the ones in a civil court. In a criminal court, the person has to be guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This means if there is any doubt in the jury’s mind that the person is not guilty, they have to find the person not guilty. In a civil court, the jury just has to believe more than 50 percent that the defendant is guilty.
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
Hilary W., 20, student <hwisler@eagle.cc.ukans.edu>, Lawrence, KS

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
In a criminal trial, one must be found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” In a civil trial, one is not found guilty, butresponsible for something, and this must be by a “preponderance of the evidence,” which is a much lower standard than in criminal cases. Since the criminal justice system is separate from the civil courts, one can still be sued for responsibility, even if they have been found not guilty criminally.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Lewis E. <lengel@ix.netcom.com>, New York , NY

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I am only a third-year law student, but I will give this my best shot. The law in America (as in Australia) has its roots in ancient English law, dating back to the time of King William in 1066. Courts were established in all the far-flung regions of the Kingdom, which had little or no contact with other courts and only the barest guidence from the King. As a result, laws and, more importantly, remedies were established to address a variety of complaints. Frequently these complaints overlapped like a kind of Venn diagram. Depending on the grudge of the wronged party, he often had his choice of remedies. If you promised to marry my daughter, but didn’t, claiming she was not a virgin, I could take you to court for not only breach of promise (damage to me, the contracting party to a mutually binding agreement) but also for slander to my daughter (damage to her reputation), for besmerching the family honor. If you throw a banana peel on the sidewalk and I slip on it, you are liable to the city for littering (damage to them) as well as for any injuries I suffer as a result of the fall, which would be classified as a “tort.”

Mr. Simpson allegedly broke (at least) two laws: He took the lives of U.S. citizens, thus injuring society in general; this is a crime and must be proved “beyond a reasonable doubt” that he did it. “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” is a vague term, but is generally looked upon as being above 90 percent certain. He also took the lives of somebody’s loved ones, thus injuring those particular individuals, who must now live without the love, help, support and income of their family member; this is a tort and the standard of proof is that if a majority of the evidence (51 percent or greater) weighs guilty, then the defendant is guilty. The reason for the distinction is that the penalty for murder (life) is more severe than for the tort (monetary damages). Due to the shadows of doubt cast by the defense, Mr. Simpson fell below the 90 percent level, but was above the 50 percent level. I realize it is a bit contrived, but without this bifurcated system, individuals who suffer personal loss would have no recourse other than to see the culprit jailed.
POSTED DEC. 9, 1998
Brian M. 28, white male <cityboy27@aol.com>, Los Angeles, CA
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THE QUESTION:
G14: What do the people in United States and Europe think of Brazil?
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
Ricardo P., 20, Brazilian <ricardoperez@dgabc.com.br>, Sao Paulo, Brazil

ANSWER 1:
I think Brazil would be a fascinating place to visit or live. The first things that come to mind are the rain forest and the Amazon. I also think about and would love to visit Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo. I almost had the opportunity when I was in the U.S. Navy, but the cruise changed. Unfortunately, our news agencies like to pick up the worst in things, such as orphaned children and the burning of rain forests, but the United States has its problems that I am sure you hear about as well. All and all, I think very highly of Brazil. I picture it as a very beautiful place.
POSTED JULY 16, 1998
Tom, 38, Texan by birth, Los Angeles, CA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I can only answer for myself, but I have always thought of Brazil as lush and beautiful. This is because of stories my father told me of his Navy days in the South Atlantic, how one morning, off the coast of Brazil, they woke up to find the rigging of the ship covered with parrots, and how beautiful the country looked from the sea. Also, my brother, who is a scientist, has travelled extensively up the Amazon and loved every minute of it. Finally, in Elizabeth Bishop’s poetry, she writes of Brazil with compassion and a painter’s eye for the beauty of the countryside. So, while I have never been there myself, my impressions of Brazil are all positive. Unfortunately, being an ignorant American, I don’t know much about political or historical issues, except that the official language is Portuguese.
POSTED JULY 20, 1998
Laura, 37, white, MD

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
In the United States, the media seems to focus on two things when discussing Brazil, or any other South American country: Drugs and the burning of the rain forests. I did learn about Brazil as part of my normal education, and consider it to be the obvious major country of importance on the continent. I would very much like to visit there someday.
POSTED JULY 22, 1998
Patrick J., 33, Akron, OH

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I can’t speak for everyone in the United States, but my perception is that Brazil is a richly exotic and staggeringly beautiful place. I don’t know a single thing about Brazilian society, government, or culture, so I really have no opinions on the Brazilian people. I guess my perception of Brazil is purely geographic. My best friend is going there on her honeymoon in October. I’ll have her check in and tell you what she thought of the people.
POSTED JULY 26, 1998
D.M.M.

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Whenever I think of people from Brazil, I think of people who truly enjoy life, people who are passionate about their people and their country, and people who don’t allow other people’s opinions of them to change who they are.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Douglas, San Fernando Valley, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I don’t know if there is a single view, but some things that come to mind are that people from Brazil party and dance a lot and are awesome at soccer!
POSTED AUG. 9, 1998
Marcie R., 29, white American female, Boston, MA

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
As an American, I suffer from the typical myopic U.S. view: I don’t think badly of Brazilians. I don’t hold Brazilians in high regard. Basically, I don’t think about Brazil or Brazilians. As a geographer I can at least discuss some components of the U.S. consciousness of Brazil: Most people know that the Amazon is being deforested (that’s a minus). Some know that Brazil is a leader in methanol/sustainable fuels (that’s a plus). We know about carnivals and Rio (maybe plus or minus). Some know that Brazilia is a model, modern planned city (plus). All in all the feel for Brazil and Brazilians is neutral.
POSTED SEPT. 7, 1998
Craig, 40, white male, MO

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
I think Brazil is a very beautiful country, but I must admit that when I think of the people of Brazil I am reminded of two personal encounters. The first time was while in San Francisco during the World Cup Soccer events, and the second was while on vacation at Disneyworld. I have never encountered people who were so rude and obnoxious in any of my travels. These people seem to care about no one but themselves and seem to think their behavior is acceptable. I hate to generalize that all Brazilians are like this and hope they are not.
POSTED SEPT. 29, 1998
Gerard, male, 43 <gerard.ales@eds.com>, Troy, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 8:
I think Brazilian people that I know are very upbeat, nice people. They seem trustworthy and honest. Your country looks beautiful and everyone seems happy. However, I would not travel to Brazil because of the tourist crime rate. I wish something could be done about it, as the tourist dollar in important to any country.
OCT. 20, 1998
Carolle S., 56, female <pioneer4@ix.netcom.com>, Benicia, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 9:
I think of Brazil as a fascinating, exciting and exotic country. I have been told that Rio is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I would love to go there, except I have heard that crime is very bad in Rio. I would like to go to the Amazon, but would be worried about tropical diseases such as malaria. Naturally, there are the stories about street children and such, but they can be found in every country. Overall, I don’t think you have to worry too much about your country’s reputation.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
George, 28, New York, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 10:
I have a friend who visited Brazil, and although he thought the rural areas were beautiful and the people who lived there were very warm, when he got to Rio he was appalled by the crime. My friend is not a small man, but he was attacked twice the week he was there, and actually saw another man get stabbed during a mugging. He was also turned off by the racism he encountered in Rio – one restaurant would not admit his black friend. I have never been to Brazil, but I have met a handful of Brazilians and they’ve all been very sweet, warm and friendly.
POSTED NOV. 27, 1998
C.B., New York , NY
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THE QUESTION:
G13: While cruising the country several times, I noticed New Englanders would say something like, “Oh, I noticed your Oklahoma accent.” Why do they find this necessary? I noticed their accents, too, but didn’t feel compelled to mention it.
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
Louella, 60 <piggiepink@aol.com>, Tecumseh, OK

ANSWER 1:
I have travelled and lived in California, New England and Texas. I was born and raised in Texas but have lost my accent. When I hear an accent, especially from the South, I ask people where they are from but do not automatically place them. Hearing a Southern accent, especially from Texas or Oklahoma, gives me a warm feeling. It makes me feel more at home. Unless someone is being rude in their tone, their inquiry may be a polite curiosity or a desire to feel a little closer to home or make a new friend, and they are using your accent to break the ice.
POSTED JULY 16, 1998
Tom, 38, Los Angeles, CA

FURTHER NOTICE:
Here’s my rule of thumb regarding accents: If you are from Oklahoma and go to Maine, you have an accent. If someone from Maine comes to visit you in Oklahoma, they have an accent. The home team never has an accent. I am a Northerner who has moved to the South, and I would not dare tell people here they have an accent. This is the way people speak here, and I respect that.
POSTED JULY 24, 1998
D.M.M., Charleston, SC

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Maybe it’s because when people from New England travel, they get many comments on their accents, so they feel it is not inappropriate. Interestingly, when I was in Canada, I kept being asked why I didn’t have an accent – even though I live in Boston.
POSTED AUG. 9, 1998
Marcie R., 29, New Englander for eight years, Boston , MA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I think it is because some New Englanders have not traveled outside of New England and have limited exposure to people who “talk funny.” So when they hear someone speak differently from them, they want to point it out. I’m originally from the Midwest and went to college in New England. When in college, I was constantly picked on for my “Midwestern accent” and for using the word “pop” to mean a carbonated beverage such as Coke. The people who did the most teasing were those who admitted to have never left the East Coast or to have never met anyone from a different part of the country. I was always amazed that people considered my speech to have a “Midwestern accent” since I speak in the same neutral way as that of newcasters and movie stars.
POSTED AUG. 21, 1998
Laura P., transplanted Midwesterner, Austin, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
As a Vermonter, I think people from New England tend to think they have no accent. In fact, I was quite surprised when just this January someone remarked to me that they noticed my accent. I would think that this has to do with why New Englanders point out accents. Also, it’s nice to feel clever when we guess where you’re from before you tell us. All in all, I’d say we’re certainly not trying to be rude, just commenting on something we noticed about you.
POSTED AUG. 28, 1998
Katelyn A., 19, white female <katielyn79@aol.com>, Essex Junction, VT
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THE QUESTION:
G12: Why do white Southerners on average still have a much lower educational level and income than white Northerners, even though it’s been 120 years since the ravages of Reconstruction?
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
Joh, 42, Chicago, IL

ANSWER 1:
Unfortunately, Southern accents are often associated with ignorance. I am from a Southern family. We are very well-educated (four generations of M.S. degrees or equivalent for both men and women), as are many of our neighbors and friends (of all races/ethnicities). Many family members tell of going off to college “in the North” and being assumed stupid by professors and other students. It is very embarrassing and confusing at first. We have to realize this stems from false preconceptions on the part of others. I would never choose to lose my Southern accent. To me, it is comforting, to hear a Southern drawl. If your question is based on statistics (and not your personal impression), I can’t provide much insight here. However, out of a recognized need for education in the South following the Civil War, family members did start both a boys’ and a girls’ school. We ain’t dumb folks!
POSTED JULY 16, 1998
Southerner <mccallie@stlnet.com>, Chattanooga, TN

FURTHER NOTICE:
I would not necessarily say that is true. Here in Georgia, wonderful things are happening in education because of the HOPE scholarship and the like. More kids are going to college and staying in-state because of HOPE. The University of Georgia is closing the gate for many in-state kids. Georgia, Atlanta in particular, is booming with new jobs. The South is a wonderful place to live right now. The economy and new job growth is staggering. And just look at the government, for instance: The President, Vice President, Speak of the House and Senate Majority Leader are all Southerners.
POSTED JULY 17, 1998
Beth <sbgreen@msn.com>, Atlanta, GA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I think a lot of it concerns cost of living. For the most part, it costs less to live in the South than it does in the North.
POSTED SEPT. 1, 1998
Sarah, 18, Southerner <bubbles@texoma.net>, Sherman, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I’m not sure what you mean by the “ravages of Reconstruction” because it was an era of equality that was not equalled until the last 30 or so years. It was generally no more corrupt than the post-rReconstruction period. Educational levels are lower in the South because these states spend less on education. They are more rural and agrarian and have smaller tax bases. The South has more poor people, who as a rule have little political power to wield to improve their situation. Those who hold power in the South tend to be more conservative and less likely to raise taxes, particularly to help others compete with their own children. Rural people are often isolated and less likely to be exposed to the benefits of education. I think money, though, is the bottom line. I used to live in Dallas, and I often heard that one of the suburban school districts was one of the best in the country (although I have no verification of this.) It is a middle- and upper-middle class city.
POSTED FEB. 10, 1999
K.J. <jones@ufl.edu>, Gainesville , FL
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THE QUESTION:
G11: Why do some people in the United States think that people in Canada still live in igloos and have snow year-round?
POSTED JUNE 24, 1998
Greg H., mid-30s, white male, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

ANSWER 1:
The ugly truth is that most Americans don’t know very much about Canada. I realized this when I was reading the discussion on America’s knowledge of Canada. I know hockey is popular, some Canadians speak French, and that Canada used to be a colony of England or something, and that it is very cold in some parts. I think you are right ihat many Americans consider Canada like Alaska in terms of climate. But not even Alaska is like the Jack London image many have in mind. Honestly, the American school system is rarely interested in Canada. Canada is treated as a country just like the United States, only different – but few are sure exactly how.
POSTED JULY 26, 1998
Julie H., 19, white female, MO

FURTHER NOTICE:
It is simply ignorance. I live in Texas and have met people who ask if I ride a horse to school. By the way, despite the lack of education I’ve received about Canada (next to none), I have never thought Canadians live in igloos.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
S.R., 20, female, San Antonio, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
We Canadians know everything about Americans, down to such ludicrous information as the President’s cat’s name, while most Canadians can’t even remember the name of Jean Chretien’s wife. The information about Canadians is disseminated in such a way that only the most interesting stories get through to the States, rather than quality information about our country. People in South Dakota know that Miss Canada is a bar-brawling beauty queen, but they have no idea of the magnitude of beauty and rich culture that belongs to their Northern neighbors.
POSTED OCT. 15, 1998
Kristine, 23, female <superfly1999@hotmail.com>, Canada

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
For the same reason some people think those of us who live in Texas still ride horses to school, dodge tumbleweeds and wear cowboy boots 24 hours a day – ignorance and a belief in stereotypes.
POSTED NOV. 27, 1998
Stephen S., 31, male, San Antonio , TX

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Because that’s all that many of us have seen from TV and movies – just like Alaska conjures up images of dogsleds and Eskimos (or Inuits). Sadly enough, many people I know (I live in Tennessee) have gross misconceptions about life in Maine.
POSTED DEC. 21, 1998
Emily, white female, 24 <Darrow25@aol.com>, Memphis , TN
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