Thinking

I am always trying to encourage my students to think.

For example, if I ask the question, "What do you think of America?" I get several types of response. So I ask my students, "What is America?"

Some say, "It is a beautiful country, with friendly people." I point out that they are talking about America as a place.

Others will say, "America is aggressive. They spy on China, they bombed the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, they attacked Iran, and they have attacked North Korea, Vietnam. They complain that North Korea and Iran are making nuclear bombs but they already have more nuclear bombs than any country in the world."

This is talking about American policy; decisions made by the President and policies determined by the government.

So think before you answer the question, "What do you think of America?"

Similarly, think before you talk about an American accent versus a British or an Australian accent. Is there such a thing? Think.