Donald really needs a geography lesson!
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
August 27, 2019 10:01am CST
Having not long ago revealed that he doesn't know the difference between Russia and the former Soviet Union, Donald Trump has now said that he wonders "what has happened to England" because PM Boris Johnson, quite rightfully, calls our country the United Kingdom and not England.
Mind you, Donald is not the only citizen of his country to make that mistake - we are regularly insulted by Americans who want to forget all about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland!
But why should I be so surprised when people on both sides of the Pond refer to "America" when they mean the United States?
4 people like this
5 responses
Not even the States of his own country, I have visited Alabama, I know where it is.
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
27 Aug 19
Maybe I am the last one who should be talking about any of this but I think it is just what we are use to calling things. Like I always refer to The United States of America, just America I guess technically it is wrong since there is North and South America but it is what I grew up calling it. Once in a while I will say that I am from the USA. I guess it just depends on the conversation.
I do have to admit my lack of knowledge of the United Kingdom. I knew about England, Wales, and Scotland but I was unaware of Northern Ireland. Maybe I learned that at one point along the way and just forgot.
Then again I'm not president and I'm willing to admit that I was unaware.
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
27 Aug 19
The United Kingdom consisted originally of Great Britain and the whole of Ireland, but the Republic gained its independence in 1922, all apart from the northern six counties that had largely been settled by Protestants and objected violently to being forced to join a Catholic country.
Incidentally, I think what a lot of British people object to is Americans referring to the "Queen of England", which makes very little sense, especially given that England only exists as a geographical and not a political concept.
2 people like this
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
27 Aug 19
@indexer So she is the Queen of the United Kingdom? Would that be her title? I'm sorry to say but I always have heard and assumed it was the Queen of England. Guess it goes to show how uneducated or maybe incorrectly educated many are in the US.
I appreciate this information, nice to know I might have been offending some without even knowing it.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
3 Sep 19
Like others here I'll admit to not knowing as much about the United Kingdom as I probably should but I can assure you if I were the POTUS or if I held any national office or decided to run for one I'd LEARN about it as well as about other parts of the world! The USA currently has a person squatting in our White House who pretty much knows nothing. He's such an embarrassment to Americans.
