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HAPPY IN THEIR IGNORANCE

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A sangoma and her acolyte. Photo by Lori Waselchuk US President Donald Trump, in his speech to Congress Tuesday evening, said Lesotho is a country in Africa that no one’s ever heard of.  And some Republicans listening to him roared with laughter. They were reveling in their ignorance. Or reveling in their arrogance.   My late father, who was a veteran CIA hand, frequently told me when we lived overseas: “Don’t be an ugly American.” Don’t talk loudly in English in a crowd. Don’t appear as the arrogant stereotypical American. Blend in. Basically, be respectful.   I have heard of Lesotho. It’s pronounced le-SOO-too, by the way. I was surprised that Trump almost got it right, instead of saying le-SOH-tho as one might assume. Elon Musk, who is originally from South Africa which is adjacent to Lesotho, may have coached Trump.   I’ve not only heard of Lesotho, but I’ve been there at least twice. I was almost killed there, but that wasn’t the fault of the Ba...