Spring Break
Politics and the 'Net Generation'
Jamie Thomson
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Ed-Op
Politics. It's a word that elicits agonized groans from far too many. Why do so many people hate politics? It is a popular belief that students just don't care about the important issues these days, but friends that I have spoken with say that the real problem is not apathy; rather, the source of their disinterest in politics stems from the fact that they feel powerless to bring about change.
Some see our political establishment as more of a massive corporation powered by the almighty dollar and controlled by the Old Boy's club than an institution of democracy for the people, by the people. Contrary to what some may believe, we aren't unconcerned about political issues; we have just been so disenchanted by the system that we are more likely to sit back and watch events unfold around us than to take action against "The Man."
What changed in the past few decades that caused today's youth to be so jaded? Well…nothing. We live in a world where wars continue to be waged, genocide still occurs around the world, and political systems are still riddled with corruption despite all the protests and petitions of our parents and grandparents. And not only has nothing changed, but since the digital revolution we are constantly bombarded with media informing us of the depressing state of the world. Since no one before us could put an end to the myriad of the world's problems, and there are too many for us to possibly handle, why should we bother tackling them now?
On Sept. 19's edition of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert labeled our generation "conscientious ignorers," as we are certainly aware of the world's problems, and yet it is almost as if our moral code prevents us from taking action.
Or does it?
"Students used to be a rebellious bunch," Colbert asserts. Hey now, "Used to be?" Who says we're not rebellious anymore? Maybe not rebellious in the true sense of the word, but we still oppose "The Man." Our method of opposition just isn't quite as apparent as our predecessors'.
Some see our political establishment as more of a massive corporation powered by the almighty dollar and controlled by the Old Boy's club than an institution of democracy for the people, by the people. Contrary to what some may believe, we aren't unconcerned about political issues; we have just been so disenchanted by the system that we are more likely to sit back and watch events unfold around us than to take action against "The Man."
What changed in the past few decades that caused today's youth to be so jaded? Well…nothing. We live in a world where wars continue to be waged, genocide still occurs around the world, and political systems are still riddled with corruption despite all the protests and petitions of our parents and grandparents. And not only has nothing changed, but since the digital revolution we are constantly bombarded with media informing us of the depressing state of the world. Since no one before us could put an end to the myriad of the world's problems, and there are too many for us to possibly handle, why should we bother tackling them now?
On Sept. 19's edition of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert labeled our generation "conscientious ignorers," as we are certainly aware of the world's problems, and yet it is almost as if our moral code prevents us from taking action.
Or does it?
"Students used to be a rebellious bunch," Colbert asserts. Hey now, "Used to be?" Who says we're not rebellious anymore? Maybe not rebellious in the true sense of the word, but we still oppose "The Man." Our method of opposition just isn't quite as apparent as our predecessors'.
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