16. So they think the war in Iraq will be a success? What, are they all planning on enlisting before September? What a joke. They sure are young to have their heads already planted so far up their asses.

dottie at 7:08AM on Jun 27th 2007

17. And here I thought I was the only (recent) college grad on my block who gave a damn! I'm thrilled to hear that more college students follow the news, but I have two questions to the article's findings:

1. How many of these "optimistic" students voted in the previous election?

2. Since when does being "concerned" and "optimistic" automatically mean that you're leftist or liberal?

(I apologize if the quotations around certain words offend. They are meant to point out and emphasize, not to criticize.)

I am one of the few people on my college that is not registered Democratic (I'd prefer not to reveal my affiliation), but I still think we're getting dangerously close to Vietnam territory in terms of international policy and determining what the people want.

There was a great article in Entertainment Weekly a few weeks ago by writer Mark Harris which discussed the rise and fall of the recycled summer movie ideas. When sequels and remakes fail at the box office, production company heads are apt to fall back on the "we're just giving people what they want" excuse, essentially placing the blame for these flops on us. Certainly, we opted to put our money to better use, but that doesn't change the fact that at the end of the day, those studio heads were the ones signing the checks. In reality, the people ARE telling the studios exactly what they want - by not going to the movies! It's the studios that are failing to pay attention to the dwindling box office profits.

The same applies with our public policy. The administration claims that this war must be sustained to protect and please the people. What people are they referring to? The ones in Albania? I say to politicians "Listen to the people you represent." Numbers don't lie, but at the same time, they don't always elicit or explain actions.

Marta R. at 7:23AM on Jun 27th 2007

18. This is hardly news Mo. College students have ALWAYS been left of the rest of the nation. They won't stay there. Well, some will, many won't. Young people make complicated issues simple, like Vietnam for example. There wasn't peace because we left, there was a genocide.

Mel at 7:34AM on Jun 27th 2007

19. Young people have always leaned to the left and always will, its part of being young. Don't take the responses here as a very good litmus test of our feelings either. The internet is wholly inhabited by young people, and its a lot easier to call Bush an idiot and compare Iraq to Vietnam (How they know anything about Vietnam from anything other than Platoon, I'm not sure) behind the guise of some username. Bush is not an idiot, and Iraq is not Vietnam. And just a history lesson for the college freshmen who responded, Vietnam was actually successful in its goal of preventing the spread of Communism throughout Asia. I believe that we will be successful in Iraq and it will help stem the spread of Extremism so if you want to compare Iraq to Vietnam in that they will both essentially complete their goals, be my guest.

I am opposed to abortion because I believe it is murder. Flame me if you want, internet liberals, but its not going to change my mind.

And above, I'm not sure if Seth was trying to be ironic, but he makes me look bad for being a republican.

I think the reason we are more optimistic on Iraq is because our first real political memory was 9/11 and we know how real the war on terror is. I still get goosebumps whenever I see footage.

I'm opposed to gay marriage and homosexuality in general because it inhibits procreation, the only real reason anyone is here. That's why I believe that gays choose to be gay because why on earth would someone's genetic code decide to wire itself so that it could not be passed on. It doesn't make sense.

James Dorritie at 7:47AM on Jun 27th 2007

20. I have as much faith in our current administration as I do that Hugo Chavez is improving Venezuela. :P

MrWiteKES at 8:37AM on Jun 27th 2007

21. Seth, shame on you. As a Christian, I am embarrassed by your language and your hateful attitude.

"Openly Gay," you don't have luxury of rejecting God. Rethink this. He is in charge, not you, and the result for you will be tragic.

It is possible to believe that homosexuality is a sin and still love the person. In fact, it is commanded. That doesn't mean Christians have to stand still for government sanctioned sin: gay marriage, abortion, and so on.

kay at 9:11AM on Jun 27th 2007

22. I don't like liberalism because I think it's exactly like Mao's Campaign of Flowers.
Young liberal revolutionaries are dangerous ideologues, just like Klansmen and terrorists.
I've posted things before, nothing bombastic, and have seen my posts cut and pasted and bitched about for weeks. What about all of that liberal open-mindedness and tolerance? The proof is in the putting. I think the real problem with liberals is that they live safe, cloistered lives: college kids who suck from their mother's breast until they've got their PhD, liberals also live on the government dole with social programs which are great but can always be improved upon with more funding. Also the universities are a big liberal utopia where kids live off mom and dad while studying grafitti as an art form, tam-tam playing, card playing, and participate in feel good social activities where they teach minority kids to roll condoms on cucumbers or otherwise try to teach minority kids that "we liberals are the good white people!"
Once liberals are weaned, grow up, start paying taxes and see their paycheck taken away and redistributed to dirty, lazy cretins who are using food stamps to buy much better food than you yourself can afford, then you start to realize that liberalism isn't looking out for you.
Call me mean, but I'd like to go to work and take my money home and enrich myself without having to fund some stupid college chick's abortion while at the same time being told by her that we need to keep our laws off her body. A lot in life is one way or the other, and I think the draw of liberalism is that they see a convoluted way in which they can have their cake and eat it too. You have the freedom to be you, but I should have the freedom to be free of you and subsidizing your grand, naieve, and childish utopian visions- Let Mo Rocca and his gay cowboys and cage dancers pay for it all! Sorry if I offended anyone, a box of kleenex can be found at your local convenience store! Have a great day!

Mike at 9:18AM on Jun 27th 2007

23. well said mike.

James Dorritie at 9:59AM on Jun 27th 2007

24. In response to James Dorritie, I will try not to laugh too hard well I type this seeing as how that usually makes me misspell. As a young American I’m and whole heartedly offended that you deduce our knowledge of Vietnam to Platoon. Some of us still read autobiographies and history books we also make time watch the history channel or PBS. I would not be surprised if you feel that this form of information is insufficient but at least we are trying to keep our minds open and continuing our education. I will not “flame” you on your view of abortion as it is a very personal matter to most. However on Gays I think a poke with a cattle prod is in order. Wow um where to begin, “inhibits procreation” this is rich! In case you have failed to notice we are getting a tiny bit over crowded. *break for laugh* I see people in the grocery store, at the mall, and in all places public that most obviously are lacking brain cells and could be considered the type of person we do not want to pass on their genetic code, however when I see these people it looks like a family of ducks! One parent followed by 5 or 6 children. I think you need to revaluate your views as they seem most uninformed. And finally my I suggest some reading as it my inform you a little more http://anthropology.lbcc.edu/handoutsdocs/mistake.pdf

Also in response to the young Americans begin misinformed, uninformed, or otherwise uncaring lets not stereotype here folks. But since we already are, time to hop on the band wagon. Maybe, just maybe it is not *young* Americans that are uninformed and yada yada yada, could it be that it is the Baby booms that are not so informed. I am an office manager; I’m 21 and manage six people who are 40 or older. LESS than half of them knew about NPR. They hadn’t an inkling of what I was talking about. They stand around and talk about their children and what was on survivor yet you think Young people are uninformed. I could type so much more but I think a few people would be appreciative if I did not. Excuse me while I go laugh my head off now.

Omega_leaf at 9:29AM on Jun 27th 2007

25. Well, I'd same i'm one of the youngest americans that will be reading this article. At 16 years old I notice a disturbing trend among teenagers my age. It's no longer young teenage angst and rebellion, its simple woofing down the pile of garbage fed to us by our news broadcasts.

I agree whole-heartedly with Robert Byngham, I've had classroom debates where its me against 29 of my peers and i'm the only conservative. All the news is bashing our Commander in Chief or making a mockery of our president's deciscions. I'm all for free speech, but what the media is doing is as close to slander and libel as anything. Your average young american doesn't realize larger political pictures, they watch the daily show and think "Wow, Bush is stupid, Jon stewart's funny."

In my opinion, we didn't go in to Iraq for WMD's, just like we didn't enter WW1 for the Lusitania, or the Spanish-American war for the sinking of the Maine. There are always larger political pictures about, and uninformed won't realize that. We no longer have thought out, balanced political discussions on media. We have blowhards spewing forth cheapshots at easy targets.

As for being desensitized to any violence and car bombs on CNN, i feel that's being too sensationalized. I'll say now i feel for each and every american who has lost a loved one in the stabilization of Iraq. However, militarily speaking, casualty rates are at record lows comparitive to any other conflict. We saw sucess in Afghanistan, and time will tell with Iraq. We may not have won Vietnam, but we prevented any Russian interference. We may not have found WMD's but we worked forward for a larger politcal idea. We see the rebuilding of Iraq as impossible, but really what does one expect? America declared independence in 1776, we had our civil war in 1861. Almost a century of time between. Iraq has attained those two events in a mere decade, and yet the bleeding heart liberals are crying that it's impossible and a waste of their welfare money and government handouts.

I feel the media should take responsibility for its brainwashing of the uninformed, and take steps to provide a balanced opinion, not simply slander any government offical for the sake of ratings.

Sean Leary at 9:42AM on Jun 27th 2007

26. Omega_Leaf:

That article really changed my mind. Now I wish I was an African Bushman instead of sitting here typing on my computer in my house. What exactly was the point of that anyway? Also, the Irish did not starve because of agriculture, they starved in combination of the effects of the Little Ice Age and a potato blight which happened to attack the form of potato which they chose exclusively to grow. Had they chosen a heartier, yet harder to grow form of potato, they may have been alright. Nowadays, we have more than one type of crop to eat. Seems like an improvement, but maybe I'm just crazy.

Finally, you MAY not suggest me any more reading as it will likely prove to be an equal waste of time. Seems as though even as hard as you were trying not to make any spelling errors, your laughter at my obviously inferior intellect failed you. Sorry Mr. Manager of 6 people out of whom less than half (is that 4 or 5) have heard of NPR. Maybe they just hate their lives as they're being managed by someone half their age and try to ignore how much that sucks by entertaining themselves with children and Survivor. You should enjoy survivor though, its an improvement, according to your article.

James Dorritie at 9:59AM on Jun 27th 2007

27. As someone who is a Christian and who graduated from a Christian university, I can honestly say that some of these comments are beyond offensive. Why is it necessary for some people to respond to Mo's post with such venom? Yes, you have the right to your opinion. But why all the nastiness?

Just my personal belief:

Christ is about PEACE and LOVE, not war and discrimination.

giftedgirl at 10:02AM on Jun 27th 2007

28. Seth Seth Seth, are you from the south? hahaha no just kidding, mostly. I Love you how open your mind is, the future of America looks GREAT.
In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti

Omega_leaf at 10:05AM on Jun 27th 2007

29. i live in a mid western college and i see that lot more students want this war to end now and are NOT optimistic about it(except for some die hard college republicans!!) now that Sen Lugar has defected i think more republicans will see the real face of this war

i see that Dinesh D'Souza is a featured blogger here..Mo plz be careful coz he does not like what u are right about left leaning students

bhumika
US news desk,the newsroom

bhumika at 10:12AM on Jun 27th 2007

30. I'm a young adult that is taking a break from college to have a different experience in life. I'm not left nor am I right but right dead in between. I believe my rights should remain my rights as declared by my forefathers and that NEW ISSUES should be decided upon by the NEW generation. There are great minds running the show, but they're not the one's I expected to be representing me. Worldwide the US is seen as a war machine, advancing where ever it deems itself necessary, sending young men and women into danger for the better interests of Corporations and Political Gain rather than for the good of the people of the United States. This isn't a war on terror, this is a terrorizing war that's got everyone thinking about the future. No matter if you're gay, straight, Christian or atheist, pro-life or pro-choice, You Are Thinking and this recent poll proves it. So don't stereotype that the youth of America is leaning one way or the other, it just proves one of two things...
In God They Trust and they know they have the Liberty to Live a Life in the Pursuit of Happiness.

Lance Terrell at 10:35AM on Jun 27th 2007