I don't know whether it is reassuring or terrifying to learn that Frenchmen are as ignorant of basic science as Americans are.

500 years ago, even the most educated men did not know the fundamental difference between the stars and the planets. But even the most ignorant peasant could leave his hut in the middle of the night and after one glance at the sky would immediately know how many hours of moonlight he would have before it would be too dark to walk safely.

It is sad that today, when anyone who could not name the President of the Republlic, or the capital of the nation, or who Madonna was, would be considered hopelessly ignorant; while simultaneously, university graduates are not ashamed to admit they cannot explain why we have seasons, or understand how we know there are atoms, or the difference between a comet and a meteor.