"... of a Fox News Channel story saying Palin had mistakenly believed Africa was a country instead of a continent."well, Palin calling Africa a country is just horrid (tongue in cheek there) ... I'm sorry but I think this is pretty minor ... and it actually makes sense when you think of it.
When people talk of Europe or Asia, they usually still speak of the individual nations that are there -- when they speak of Africa, they always speak of it as a whole ... unless there is something special going on in a particular nation, Africa is thought of as ONE NATION, even in the media - or is that especially the media?
Does anyone remember the episode of "Who's Line is it Anyways?" where one of the guys called Africa a country instead of a continent? They poked fun at it ... teased the guy unmercifully thru the show ... but they didn't take it as a sign that the guy was stupid - as they seem to be doing to Palin.
Yes there is only one country** which is also its own continent (although with New Z and Tanzania there also, I question that designation too) ... and it is a lesson kids in our school system learn in 2nd grade ... but then, how often do we use this bit of knowledge?
I can see where it would be an honest mistake ... geez, you think if Biden had made this kind of mistake the media would be all over it? Now if she had made such a huge deal out of Biden's getting American history so wrong when it had to have been researched .... oh wait ... she did.
**NOTE:
Antarctica is a continent unto itself, but it is not a country ... in fact there is a national treatise which keeps it neutral, unlike the Arctic which is being carved up by countries and possibly sparking war as we speak (so far I have heard US, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Russia are all laying claim to a chunk of it and are arguing over the borders)
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