I thought I would capture for posterity Miss South Carolina Teen USA's answer to a pageant question.

Question: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

Answer: 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 education like such as South Africa and uh, Iraq everywhere like such as and I believe that they should our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., or should help South Africa, it should help Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future.

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A lot of people have been making fun of this answer, and I just don't understand why.

She starts out strongly, pointing out that a lot of people don't have maps. This is absolutely true. How could they possibly point out where the U.S. is on a world map if they don't even own a map? You wouldn't expect someone who doesn't own a swimming pool to know how to swim, would you? Of course not.

From there her answer does get a little difficult to understand. However, her deep concern for the peoples of South Africa and Iraq is apparent and comendable. And of course Americans should build for their future. Who can argue with that?

All in all a pretty decent effort. I can't believe the people of the internet are making fun of her.

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Copyright ©2007, David Vanderbyl