Baby Boomer War Protesters Perplexed Why Today's Youth Don't Care

[Frodo]

War protests: Ardent elders, unaware youth:
Iraqi war demonstrators in their 60s don't see why today's young people seem so uninterested.

The protesters were furious. Occupying the senator's office, they chanted antiwar slogans and demanded an immediate end to the war. The police moved in, warning protesters they would be arrested if they didn't disperse. Most left, but 11 activists were cuffed, charged with criminal trespass, and taken to jail.

This model for antiwar activism was perfected in the Vietnam era. Today it is employed to protest the Iraq war. Yet, in accounts of this recent protest in the office of Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R., Maine), one telling statistic stood out: the youngest protester arrested was 52, and most were in their 60s.

Where were the kids?

The answer provides insight into a key dynamic happening in the American public sphere. A new generation gap exists.

In a perfect inversion of the 1960s generation gap, today's is marked by angry, activist elders and a more quiescent youth. The elderly protesters have experienced lifetimes marked by repeated episodes of governmental malfeasance - from lies about the Vietnam War to the cover-ups of Watergate and the Iran-contra scandal. By calling upon memories of an energized populace rising against "the system," they are inspired to political action.

And many in their generation remain bewildered that today's kids don't seem to care.

[Sam Spade]

Most youngsters have better things to do, like getting a job and building a life. 

These aging hippie boomers are simply just trying to relive their college years over and over again.

[Beet]

The economic fundamentals have changed since the 1960s. It's much tougher to make a living today on what most people would consider good. You can't f8ck around as much as you could back then.

Besides, what have we learned in 40 years? As the movement was hitting the streets, the multi-millionaires like Scaife and Olin were planning the think tanks and leadership funds that took over the country. Politically active young people realize money controls politics just as it controls everything else, and therefore worship it just like the non-politically active.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It's simple.  The Iraq Conflict and the War on Terrorism are both being fought using volunteer troops, so this war has only our treasure (which youth typically have very little of) being drafted as opposed to having both blood and treasure being drafted as was the case in Vietnam.  Also, compared to the height of the Vietman War, the numbers of dead and wounded are lower.  Finally, while most people believe going into Iraq was a mistake, most also believe that a quick withdrawl would merely be an example of the adage that two wrongs don't make a right, so even the politically aware among the youth are not likely to see a pointless PR arrest as being worth doing.

[angus]

Where were the kids?

Playing video games:  the semiconductor industry was still in its infancy back when your fat, bearded, sextegenarian teachers were hippies.

Having sex:  the sexual revolution has been fought and won.

Studying hard:  todays kids are under more parental pressure than any generation before.

Getting their ears (navels, noses, balls) pierced:  even puritan Massachusetts finally allowed ear-piercing, since its state supreme court ruled that the prohibition was unconstitutional back in 1999.

Watching television:  your grandparents may have had only 3 channels.  But you have 300.

Eating:  this generation has many more choices for all-night fast food than their parents.

Definitely not exercising:  todays kids are the most obese generation ever.

Posting on Dave Liep's US Election Atlas Forum:  computers have come a long way since 1965.

Basically, today's generation of would-be protesters have many more options when it comes to spending free time.  Unfortunately, most are unhealthy options.  The hippies, once they got over their rebellion, may have thought LSD was a bad influence.  But compared to today's vile junk food, cable TV, video games, AIDS, college pressures, and the world wide web, LSD doesn't seem so unhealthy by comparison.  They're not protesting because they're busy with other, probably less healthy, alternative activities.

[MODU]

Most kids/young adults today are more educated and aware of international affairs unlike my peers were back in VN.  For that, the new generations get a lot of credit.

[adam]

Most of the youth today are too caught up in their iPODs loaded with crappy music and the mall to protest things they disagree with.

[Inverted Things]

I was in a couple of protests in River Falls when the Iraq war started. I was both
a) bored out of my mind
b) aware that whatever I do in River Falls, WI will make no difference whatsoever.

Now I'm at the University of Minnesota, and the last protest that took place here ended when some students decided to pour red paint on the army recruiting building.

The old people against the war are better off without the youth when the youth do stupid crap like that.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Our generation actually has a life unlike the boomers.

[nlm]

Where were the kids?

Playing video games:  the semiconductor industry was still in its infancy back when your fat, bearded, sextegenarian teachers were hippies.

Having sex:  the sexual revolution has been fought and won.

Studying hard:  todays kids are under more parental pressure than any generation before.

Getting their ears (navels, noses, balls) pierced:  even puritan Massachusetts finally allowed ear-piercing, since its state supreme court ruled that the prohibition was unconstitutional back in 1999.

Watching television:  your grandparents may have had only 3 channels.  But you have 300.

Eating:  this generation has many more choices for all-night fast food than their parents.

Definitely not exercising:  todays kids are the most obese generation ever.

Posting on Dave Liep's US Election Atlas Forum:  computers have come a long way since 1965.

Basically, today's generation of would-be protesters have many more options when it comes to spending free time.  Unfortunately, most are unhealthy options.  The hippies, once they got over their rebellion, may have thought LSD was a bad influence.  But compared to today's vile junk food, cable TV, video games, AIDS, college pressures, and the world wide web, LSD doesn't seem so unhealthy by comparison.  They're not protesting because they're busy with other, probably less healthy, alternative activities.

I laughed my ass off and was sad at the same time when I read your post Angus - and I agree, for the most part.

[Citizen James]

They care.  They just show their concern in different ways.

Blogging.
Debating current issues on BBS's such as this one.
Emailing their elected representitives.
Signing online pettitions (useless, but an activity nontheless).
Freeping polls (meaningless, but popular)
Working in political campaigns.

And even the odd sign waving protest now and then too boot.

The times, my friend, they are a changin'

The words of the prophet are written in cyberspace...

[jerusalemcar5]

Most kids/young adults today are more educated and aware of international affairs unlike my peers were back in VN.  For that, the new generations get a lot of credit.

Actually, I would say the exact oppsite.  You must be joking.  We don't even discuss current affairs in my classes.  We're so history-only focused for tests it isn't disucssed and kids dont read news.  My friends, even the smart ones, usually don't half of what's going on in the world.  in those days kids were much more active in being political and udnerstanding.

[MODU]

Most kids/young adults today are more educated and aware of international affairs unlike my peers were back in VN.  For that, the new generations get a lot of credit.

Actually, I would say the exact oppsite.  You must be joking.  We don't even discuss current affairs in my classes.  We're so history-only focused for tests it isn't disucssed and kids dont read news.  My friends, even the smart ones, usually don't half of what's going on in the world.  in those days kids were much more active in being political and udnerstanding.

Hence the word "Most" at the start of my statement.

[Nym90]

Most kids/young adults today are more educated and aware of international affairs unlike my peers were back in VN.  For that, the new generations get a lot of credit.

This is likely due to far greater media coverage of things today as opposed to back then. People everywhere are more educated today than they were then because there are more sources of information available.