Ignorant and blind: terms that apply almost every American when it comes to world affairs. The general public is plagued with an utter lack of understanding for what goes on outside of the United States borders.

They lack understanding of essential topics such as what the United Nations actually does, the legal obligation the United States has to stop the genocide in Darfur, and why it was controversial that the 2008 Olympics were held in Beijing, China.

As much as I would like to condemn the entire country for being clueless, I cannot because I am in the same predicament. Originally, I thought that I was very knowledgeable and worldly. I spent a month on a mission’s trip in South Africa; I watch both the news and the history channel. Not exactly an impressive list of qualifications but I thought if any American teen had a grasp on the issues of the world it was me. I was completely wrong.

Within the first days of school, World Affairs teacher Chris Dunback had completely popped my ego bubble. Simply looking at the syllabus my eyes were opened to how much I had to learn. How much everyone has to learn. At first I was overwhelmed but now I am just grateful, my eyes needed to be opened. Opened to the curriculum of China’s impressment of Taiwan and Tibet and the genocides occuring in African countires. Things that have a large effect on our country, that many Americans know nothing about.

World Affairs places the issues of the world on a platter and allows the students to make decisions and form opinions. It is an opportunity every students needs to take.

We are the future of this country and we cannot be blind to the issues of the world. Simply becoming more informed may not suddenly change the world into a utopian society but it would empower us to make more informed decision and to have a greater grasp of the world we live in.