I know that most students during the Vietnam war were not a part of the SDS, but still--the lack of support and knowledge of politics is overwhelming! Discard the draft, and now no one knows what is going on! I'm not for the draft at all, but I don't understand why the younger generations can't be committed to learning about their country?
2007-10-21 17:01:01 · 15 answers · asked by Emily Grycel 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
You have pretty much nailed the answer,the main reason kids in the 60's and 70's were so involved was the draft. Today no kid has to worry about going to war,unless they voluntarily join the military. In fact as one recent West Point grad has proven,even if you join the military it is possible to get out of actually going to war,because as soon as it came time for him to go he was suddenly a conscientious objector.
AD
2007-10-21 17:07:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you refuse to consider that the draft has anything to do with your question then you are willfully eliminating a huge part of the real answer.
Our politicians,particularly the neoconservatives as it is an integral part of their ideology,feel free to wage wars because- for the most part -these wars will not affect the American public and the way they vote. Having a strictly professional army,that has to do what it is ordered, means that politicians can use armed conflict to solve problems without ruffling the surface of people's daily lives. In other words,not having to worry about whether or not they'll be voted in again makes it far too easy for our political representatives to choose war as a solution to problems.
All politicians think that the wars they begin will be ¨contained¨ and ¨over before Christmas¨ long before the bodycount becomes noticeable. It wasn't till the bodycount in Iraq hit the 3000 mark that there was any significantly vocal opposition to the war.
Having the draft would definitely make people,especially those within the draftee age-group,sit up and take notice.
Our younger generation is self-satisfied and complacent because there is a paid,professional army doing the dirty work.
War affected students and young people directly when there was a draft. It no longer does so.
2007-10-22 04:41:54 · answer #2 · answered by Tebow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The media during the Vietnam war were not as heavily "assisted" then they are now in Iraq. The graphic messages sent by reporters in Vietnam to the U.S. showed citizens what was really happening which led to an strong anti-vietnam war. Now, reporters are surrounded by soldiers limiting their mobility and scrambling what is really happening in Iraq. All these events and much more led to a lack of involvement by citizens especially the younger generation.
2007-10-22 00:29:19 · answer #3 · answered by asaa09 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People today think shopping is patriotic! I think that the over consumption and media addiction is a formula to keep students busy, when they vote, it is usually for their favorite video on MTV or you tube! I am 20 and see that there is no one trying to enlighten my generation as far as politics, especially minorities.
Eventually some of these students find they cant afford health care or have unwanted pregnancies and then they realize, "I have a say in all this?"
Commitment on the students part is not lacking, the educators, parents and other authority figures are the ones who need to figure out how to reach them, perhaps MTV and you tube?
2007-10-22 00:14:14 · answer #4 · answered by mcast87 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right...
But is there a possibility that there may be a problem with the quality of the TEACHING that has this generation uninterested?
Or maybe with interfering parents that should allow the board of education to dictate the curriculums?
But you're right - there's a sad lack of understanding or interest in government policies and systems with this generation. All many of them are interested in these days is entertainment and instant gratification from computer games.
2007-10-22 00:08:23 · answer #5 · answered by Ambassador Z 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find that many people today, not only kids, are tuned out on the world and tuned into themselves. They understand basic concepts like world hunger--they get that bad things happen in the world, but they are so consumed with their own lives that they cannot/will not focus on the world around them.
I think a large part of this is due to our parents raising 'me' children who get everything/much of what they want when they want it. It is a 'me' society these days and, unfortunately, if it doesn't have to do with 'me' then it isn't all that important to 'me.'
2007-10-22 00:08:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are to busy dealing with all of the failed policy of those from the '70's.
2007-10-22 00:10:02 · answer #7 · answered by sarpedons 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they're pretty much called lazy and worthless by older generations. Why bother to learn about what people who obviously don't respect your opinion have to say?
2007-10-22 00:07:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
To much instant gratification available. You discuss, when you are hungry, not when you gratify yourself 24/7.
2007-10-22 00:10:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excellent point!!! Our nation is "educating" a bunch of selfish, arrogant, lazy children. God help us when it's their turn to run this country.
2007-10-22 00:12:08 · answer #10 · answered by Cinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋