A Heritage Foundation Article on whether or not New Mexico is part of the U.S.:
The author, the President of The Heritage Foundation, proceeds to blame all this on the contemporary education system. But it's much older than that; when I moved from New Mexico to Indiana in the early 1990s, I tried to cash one of my last New Mexico Tech paychecks at my bank, and the collected tellers balked because, "It doesn't say on the check that it's in U.S. funds"--and both tellers were in their late 40's. Or maybe Mr. Heritage thinks thinks things have been going to hell since, well, whenever he emerged from high school. (Bring back mandatory Latin instruction now!)"I'm sorry, sir," the voice on the other line replied. "I can't sell tickets to someone outside the United States."
Yep -- you heard correctly. The sales office of the U.S. Olympic Committee didn't know that "New Mexico" isn't part of old Mexico. Though he tried, Mr. Miller could convince neither the operator -- nor her supervisor! -- that New Mexico is one of the 50 United States of America. The supervisor, getting on the line when Mr. Miller insisted, told him (you can just hear her tone), "Sir, new Mexico, old Mexico -- it doesn't matter. You still have to go through your country's Olympic Committee."
Nothing like a little nostalgia to ruin a funny story.
Posted by johndan at November 23, 2004 11:54 PM | TrackBack