Harvard students can’t name capital of Canada
Harvard students cant name capital of Canada
By Carys Mills, OTTAWA CITIZEN, November 19, 2013
On one of the world's most prestigious campuses, it seems some of America' s brightest haven't heard of Ottawa. Students at Harvard University had blank looks when asked to name Canada' s capital by a reporter from the campus newspaper, The Harvard Crimson.
Photograph by: Screen capture , The Harvard Crimson, via YouTube
OTTAWA On one of the worlds most prestigious campuses, it seems some of America' s brightest havent heard of Ottawa.
Students at Harvard University had blank looks when asked to name Canada s capital by a reporter from the campus newspaper.
Um, I dont know, I have no idea, said one student at the school in Cambridge, Mass. , which is about a seven-hour drive from Ottawa.
I dont know, probably Vancouver or something, said another.
"Alberta?" Thats not right, a third student said. I have no idea.
Ontario, Quebec, Toronto and Vancouver were some of the other guesses, captured in a video posted to YouTube last Friday by The Harvard Crimson, and to the campus newspapers website Monday.
The latest videotaped blow to the Canadian capital, which had almost 19,000 views by Monday evening, is reminiscent of comedian Rick Mercers 2001 television special, Talking to Americans.
Mercer chatted with some of our southern neighbours, who congratulated Canada on legalizing VCRs and reaching a population of one million, and signed a petition against the Saskatchewan seal hunt.
Even Al Gore, who was then running for president, didnt correct Mercer when he called Toronto the countrys capital.
At least on Harvards campus, that lack of Canadian knowledge was tinged with regret.
Oh my god, I dont know. Um. Wait, thats really bad. Thats really bad that I dont know, said one male student, stepping backwards and putting his hand over his mouth.
I dont know, Im sorry, Im sorry Canada another responded.
And that one student who got the answer right?
Are you Canadian? someone asked off camera.
Yeah.
Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
You can watch the video itself on this web site:
http://www.examiner.com/article/capital-of-canada-can-you-name-it-these-harvard-students-couldn-t-video
I chose that site as the video source because, being an American site and written by an American, it contained this paragraph:
The hilarious video uploaded to YouTube showed their answers ranged from the I don't know variety to some who at least took a stab at it and tossed out cities that were in Canada, so they get partial credit Alberta, Vancouver, Toronto, etc. Some threw out entire provinces as their answer: Ontario, Quebec.
Those of you who DO know something about Canada might notice that even the author of the article was wrong, Alberta isn't a city, its a province.
Tags
Who is online
338 visitors
Okay, all you Americans who probably didn't know - here it is.
I knew the answer ... but then I didn't attend Harvard .
You as a little "girl " ?
Is there a school where you learn about historical bearded ladies and cross-dressing men? Most schools should teach geography.
Of course they didn't know it. It's mis-spelled. It's should be Odawa, the original spelling. Translation, ''Traders''.
I didn't even bother to attend school at all.....
How do you drop out of both high school and college. Once you drop out of high school how do you get into college unless:
1. You are a fabulous football player.
2. You were home-schooled
3. You were accepted as a mature student
4. You forged your high school graduation certificate and transcript
5. You donated a million dollars to the college fund.
Oh sure, Kavika. Then why didn't they say the original Indian name?
6. Marry the Dean's daughter.
They did Buzz, Odawa is the original Indian name...LOL..They had Harvard grad's name it and they mis-spelled it....LOL
Could you explain the white stuff to them too?
Where did you get that picture of me?
Kim, you KNOW that Buffalo gets more snow than Toronto.
Good thing they didn't assign you to the NORAD DEW line.
Good one, Kavika.
Good to know I'm smarter than a Harvard student.....
Someone needs to ask Randy if he can find the numberfor his Psychiatrist so he can make an appointment........