Why is it that young people in Paris get fired up, but here in the US.....

[Raydawg1234]

they are hardly motived to do anything besides watch TV, party, smoke weed, etc. Are our young people a bunch of brain-dead spoiled brats or what???

The state of our youth does not say much about the future of our country

[mimitabby]

1. didn't you see all the young people demonstrating last week?

or were you partying and smoking dope and watching tv?

[Raydawg1234]

4. those protests are not a good example

I am talking about issues like the war in Iraq, Bush as Dictator etc, in which the mainstream youth is relitavely silent.

Not to sound like a racist, but I am mostly reffering to the spoiled white middle class kids that make up the majority of our youth.

[mdmc]

8. why not?

:shrug:

[RagingInMiami]

32. When they start threatening to deport the spoiled, white middle-class kids

to Iraq, maybe you'll see some protests.

[countryjake]

68. When our high school held its Anti-War/Impeach Bush protest...

that walkout was made up of exactly the same people who then walked-out to protest the attack on immigrants in this country. About 75% of that earlier Anti-War march were Chicanos and Latinos, who are very actively organizing their young people here (and they are only 25% of our total pop.)

Maybe the answer is in who feels the need to organize to make a change in this country.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Too much economic comfort and parents who coddle them?

[JuniperLea]

14. I agree with that thought

Coddling kids does them harm instead of any good in the long run.

My daughter is helping pay for college by working in a book store. There is a convention center across the street and this week there is a cheer-leading competition. A bunch of whiny girls came in and one complained about having to move her selected items to another check-stand, so my daughter did it for her. Then the girl went on to complain about every little price... one of her friends spoke up and said, "Hey, why complain? Didn't your parents give you $600 to spend this week?" That about did it for my daughter. She was righteously pissed... not that she never got $600 bucks to blow, but that "those stupid parents are creating a monster!"

My daughter, shy as she is, would demonstrate. She went to a Cindy Sheehan vigil with me and I know she would do something like that again. I know, without question, that whiny cheerleader girl would not.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. Cheerleading competition? That about says it all.

These kids have no idea bout the "REAL" world. Maybe that is a narrow point of view, but that seems so pointless, shallow, meaningless and a waste of time in this day and age.
I know teens are pretty self-absorbed, but when the parents and some parts of society actually ENCOURAGE and PROLONG it....what can one say?

Your daughter sounds like a really great, down-to-earth kid. kudos.

[JuniperLea]

53. Thanks

It's good to know that they grow to appreciate how different they are from a lot of kids. That is my one piece of advice to all parents... don't give in to the whine. If you feed the whine, it will grow bigger and stronger.

[GreenPartyVoter]

64. That was just one cheerleader out of millions in this country, though. My

team last year spent the fall making Kerry/Edwards posters to hang around the school and town. Kid you not.

[marmar]

18. That's going to change soon...

and that will get them fired up, when they can't afford all this conspicuous consumption they've been programmed they have to do.

[savemefromdumbya]

3. Different from the 1960s

In my day students and other young people would be sitting in, marching, setting fire to this and that. Life just got too soft and comfortable for the 21st century youth or is it something that McDonalds is putting in the cheeseburgers?

[Xithras]

66. Yep, only about 1% of the youth protested in the 1960's

Most people assume that it was more, but the actual counts from the protests show that the numbers were quite small (relative to the total population). Lots of kids wore the clothes, even more listened to the music, and quite a few smoked the dope, but only about 1% of the 15-25 crowd actually participated in protests back in the 1960's. We tend to forget that nowadays because that 1% set the headlines and got all the airtime, and it was that 1% that helped to end the war, but practically all the kids alive back then just went about their regular business, attended their classes, worked their summer jobs, went to their parties, spent their time looking for sex, and basically lived lives not all that unlike those lived by young people today.

1% is still FAR more than we have today...1% of modern America's youth would still give us a couple million protesters...but todays events don't directly affect most people. We don't have a draft that puts our young in fear of being sent to a war they disagree with, the government isn't directly stripping them of rights (real or perceived) like they are in France, and the loss of liberty under this administration is still primarily theoretical for most young people.

[savemefromdumbya]

73. yes it did seem more than 1%

as you say he was hyped up then

[walldude]

5. Getting out the..

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

6. all of my pot smoking friends are far more politically active

then ones who don't. The straight-laced kids I know seem far less inclined to care or protest.

[Ariana Celeste]

35. Same here!

Exactly the same case with me. All of the pot smokers I've known since Jr. High have been actively into politics and current events, those are the people I learned from. Out of the rest of my friends the only others who cared were the GLBT ones.

[walldude]

40. And there you have it... GLBT and Pot smokers have something

in common. Persecution. Pot smokers are politically active because they are treated as criminals. I imagine the GLBT community feels the same way...

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

44. well said

persecution and second-class citizenship force people to become active

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

45. .

:hi:

[mdmc]

7. America, not just the youth

are brain dead spoiled brats... More dems voted for Bush over Nader... super sad...

[queenbdem87]

9. Its our culture of complacency.

I am 19 and consider myself to be very active in politics. However I do know many other people my age that couldn't give a hoot what's happening right now in America. Many care just enough to voice a liberal opinion but not enough to take action.

[VirtualChicano]

10. It's The Television

Makes Americans brain dead

[mitchum]

11. It's not youth, but the lack of American worker solidarity

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Back in the day, it was a vast minority that did any protesting, too.

In my school's mock '68 election, the most popular kid in school got tagged to run as George Wallace. He blew Nixon and Humphrey out of the water.

Then, like now, most were not engaged.

No cause for despair. It just looks different in hindsight.

[Burning Water]

13. Seems like

they're pretty satisfied with life. They've got theirs, and you should go get your own kind of attitude.

The French on the other hand, still seem to be hungry and want more out of life. Go figure.

[JohnKleeb]

15. I dont know how you get that idea

I'm 18 and I've been to a few protests, canvassed for Kerry last fall, and will likely be attending a Save Darfur march later this month. It is true that young people don't vote as much as older people but it's always been that case. When I went to the anti war rally last fall, there were tons of young people there. You want young people to get involved then don't refer to us as a bunch of partying, TV watching, pothead brats.

[Wilber_Stool]

16. I think it's a bit more practical than that.

They won't get fired if they miss a day or two of work. That's what it was like during the '60s as well. You didn't worry about losing your job but if you did it wasn't too hard to find another.

[cyanide]

17. This administration

In (give the devil its due) its propaganda campaign --- made it abundantly clear that if you protest you were in fact un American.

When that perception is turned around watch the flood gates open.

The sooner the better in my book.

[katty]

30. o yea, as the worm turns and it will

[quinnox]

19. blanket generalizations are

always wrong.

[BlackHeart]

31. I think you meant

People who make blanket generalizations are always wrong.

[tridim]

20. It's much easier to gather a large protest in Europe

I can't just pick up and fly to from Denver to DC every time I want to participate in a protest.

[msgadget]

21. No, I think it's the lack of press

There've been protests throughout the United States but they don't get much attention. Why the press chose to highlight last week's is odd (and telling). The national press helped during the 60's by documenting the protests and their results, they kept the issues in the face of the public and politicians couldn't ignore them.

[Initech]

22. It's called "marketing and advertising"

And it's an evil in this country that's practically unstoppable. Today's youth is so buried under thousands of advertisements for shit that it's not even funny.

[northzax]

23. there are ways to enact change besides rioting

unfortunately, it's the only way open the the youth of France, with their 25% unemployment rate. I know dozens of young people who have dedicated their lives to making everything better in their community. WE don't need to riot.

plus, the youth of France are the spoiled ones, they are the ones protesting for guaranteed employment, from the start, for everyone who gets a job. All that does it keep people from creating new jobs.

and that's not a wingnut talking point, before I'm accused of it. Think of it this way. you own a small business. You're planning to expand, so you hire a recent graduate to help you out. If that person doesn't work out, you're stuck with them, until they retire (or do something worth firing) you can't simply say "Steve, sorry, but we need to move in a different direction, and you're not cutting the mustard" so how many people are you going to take a chance on?

[enigma000]

24. These young people are protesting for the right to lifetime employment

I suspect these French youths aren't protesting to make the world a better place, they are protesting so they can get and keep a job for life.

Maybe American youths just watch TV, party, smoke weed, etc. and don't feel compelled to demand a guaranteed job. A job they can't lose regardless of changes in the business climate, the economy or their own job performance.

[Ksec]

25. Were fat and lazy

and uninformed, thats why.

Most people have given up and just decided to take it up the ass.

I admire the French for the way they rule their government. Americans on the other hand dont. They are a bunch of milquetoasts. Until we start acting like the Frech people, the gov and their corporate owners will continue to screw us at every turn.

I only hope we take a page from the French on how to make change.

You raise three kinds of Hell, thats how. Make it more costly to them when they screw us. Id like to also see some kinda organized boycott of crooked corporations who abuse the people who made them what they are

[OutsidetheBox]

26. Laziness and ignorance, pure and simple laziness and ignorance

SO many kids today can't even place Iraq on a map. They can't even tell you where Washington DC is located. They are apathetic, lazy, addicted to video games, television and the comfortable lifestyle of consumerism and materialism. They don't know shit about the world or about current events. But it is not their fault...blame parents and the school system for that. Parents have stopped being parents and school systems teach absolutely nothing. It's called America in the 21st century. Instead of re-living the 60's today's youth prefer to sit on a couch, watch teevee, go shopping and become the lemming and sheeple their parents have become.

[zappaman]

27. OMG!!!!

Did you hear who Lindsay Lohan is seeing! OMIGOD!!!
Did you watch AMERICAN IDOL last night? OMIGOD!!!
Have you played the nex XBOX game where you get to shoot guys? Awesome!!!
Did you hear about those losers over in France? They need to like drink a TAB or something and chill out.

[ContraBass Black]

28. As a matter of fact,

I HAVE stopped beating my wife!

[gizmo1979]

33. It's not just the Youth

only 30 UAW protesters showed up to protest Delphi's CEO the other daty. That's pathetic.So it's a malady that has gotten into all age groups,except the latino's they can get out the protesters.

[cliss]

34. I can tell you what it is, Raydawg.

1) Americans are deeply in debt. They're much too stressed & harried, worrying about paying their mortgage to go out and demonstrate. Gotta work that 2nd job on the night shift.

2) Americans are heavily medicated. They are too drugged to really know what's going on. Most of my co-workers take A LOT of prescription drugs, from morphine, to Xanax, to Oxycontin, to Codeine. Lots of others. They're passive, believe me.

3) We're lacking in exercise. It's hard work to get out there and carry a sign, walk down the avenue and be passionate. Easier to sit on our asses and watch it on TV.

4) We're still comfortable. Life isn't unmanageable - yet.

I have a lot of faith in Americans, though. When they get riled up, things happen.

[Ariana Celeste]

36. Great post!

I think you are right. :thumbsup:

[pstans]

37. the majority of American kids are high or on ritalin

[rockymountaindem]

38. We don't have anything to protest about

Hear me out everybody:

As someone upthread mentioned, the people in France are protesting for what is basically lifetime employment which, if they get it, will greatly enhance their quality of life. The policies over which they are protesting will have a *direct* impact on them in one way or another. In the Vietnam War, when there was a draft, the American youths protested beacuse stopping the war could mean the difference between life and death (or at least the difference between sitting at home or being sent far away for an unpleasant experience).

Today, what do we have? We have a war which is making a lot of headlines, but which currently doesn't have a great impact on the youth of this country, since none of us face the draft and hardly anyone under 25 is in the military. Thus, to most, the Iraq war seems far away. Other issues, like outsourcing, don't seem like a big deal when you're just getting started in life and you don't know for sure what kind of career you're going to have. What are we supposed to do, protest interest rate hikes and obscure trade agreements hardly anybody knows about regardless of age?

Note the apathy of white-collar workers during the 90s and early '00s who didn't care about the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs. Now a lot of them are in panic mode because their jobs are going to India. If the adults won't look out for their own self-interest, what kind of example are they setting?

If the government said "Hey kids, we'll give you a golden parachute for your whole life, but to get it we need to see 2,000,000 of you in the streets this week", I guarantee you we'd be out there.

[rinsd]

42. Outstanding post with one very minor quibble....

"hardly anyone under 25 is in the military"

I assume you meant this as a percentage of the population under 25 and not age demographics of the military?

[rockymountaindem]

46. Yes, that's what I meant

The percentage of the whole population which is currently serving in the military is quite small. Although I have friends and family members who are serving now, I would wager most people my age do not.

[JohnKleeb]

47. and you're right

I can only count on my one hand how many people I know who went in to the military after high school I think I am probably a rarity too in this case.

[rockymountaindem]

49. Well, let's see...

I have... 3 friends in the reserves or on active duty (1 tour in Afghanistan and 2 in Iraq between them), one guy I had a kind of antagonistic yet respectful relationship with, 7 other people I can name who went to service acadamies (but I wasn't good friends with them), 2 in ROTC as well as one other dude who went into the Marines but quit during basic because he evidently thought his DIs were jerks and that he knew better. He'd make a great mercenary, but not a good Marine, I guess. I also have one family member in the service who shall remain nameless.

I'll qualify this by saying that I live in a town with a large military presence, so I'm probably the exception and not the rule.

[JohnKleeb]

52. Lemme see about myself

I know a guy who I had some classes with who joined the Marines, another guy I had English with last year joined the Army straight out of high shcool, a neighbor of mine who was a grade older is now at the Naval Academy, and my best friend growing up who moved when I was 9 is joining the 82nd Airborne soon.

[rinsd]

48. "I would wager most people my age do not"

I would agree. Even assuming that all servicemen and women in combat theaters are age 18 to 25 and you still have them as a small percantage of the overall 18 to 25 age demographic.

[JohnKleeb]

50. I think thats true

I think maybe thats why people in my age group can't relate to war and its reality as easily as someone who knows people who have been there.

[rinsd]

54. Definitely

If you have family or friends serving in a theater of combat, your impression of the war and why we went to war will likely have more passion if not anything else. And in reality how many people have served in those theaters? 1/2M? a million? Demographics wise, its a small slice.

BTW WOT, but enjoy Mazzone's magic this year. I think the bevy of young arm potential seen last year is gonna take flight.

[JohnKleeb]

56. Thanks

It is very small demographic wise. Yeah I think this year could be nice and I'll settle for 3rd place and or 500. I think that Chris Ray can be very good if used properly, think Danny Carbera is finally gonan show what hes made of and Penn and Loewen will come to their own.

[rinsd]

59. Keep the faith Kleeb (nt)

[mondo joe]

39. Why expect the youth to behave differently than their elders?

We have a culture of sedation.

[Neil Lisst]

41. Hey, my kids are doing just fine - employed, working hard

Out of the nest, own places, self-sufficient.

The old "state of the youth" thing has been around at least 2300 years or more. I recall a quote by Marcus Arelius, I believe, but danged if I can quote it. Oh hell, I'll find it.

Our young people today do not have the opportunities we had. The jobs aren't as good and don't offer as many hours. The distance between entry level jobs for college grad v. MBAs and JDs is large.

[ShaneGR]

43. I fail to see how violent rioting in the streets is a "good thing??

Just got finished watching a video where 10 guys beat the living hell out of 2 guys because they were holding banners they didn't agree with.

[rockymountaindem]

51. No that's the sign of a vibrant democracy!

:sarcasm:

Don't confuse motion with progress, I guess.

[pocket]

55. amerikkkan kids are fat, dub, and complacent

in a nutshell

[Hardrada]

57. When I was a protester in my days at the U of Iowa

we could scarcely get up to a few hundred people interested out of 20 thou students so that apathetic bit sure hasn't changed but we made our presence felt anyway with constant meeting and planning and coming up with inventive ideas for demonstrations. It is always a nucleus that are active. We laid the groundwork for bigger things like the end of the Draft, increased popular pressure to end the war and so forth.

[DireStrike]

58. Two answers

1) Doesn't do anything. At least not fast enough, in today's world. Teenagers just don't understand campaigns that will take years or decades.

2) Trace antidepressants and other chemicals that get into the water? We live much differently than we did in the 60s, in many ways.

[ShortnFiery]

60. But is was inspiring to see all that compassion from the youth of France!

Do those folks know how to protest, or what?

What impressed me most is the restrained behavior of the police, both plain clothes as well as uniformed. I'm not fan of authority but they did act very professional by not baiting on more violence. When some protester crossed the line they arrested him sans the "head bashing."

Yes, hats off to both the French (non-violent) Protesters and Riot Police!

Odd? I know but ... Do those French know how to put on a protest!?!

[Neil Lisst]

61. Without the draft, Vietnam protests would have failed

The fear of going to Vietnam drove the protests. That is what created the fierce opposition.

If there were a draft next year for a war in Iran, you'd see youth throwing a fit in the streets.

[Comadreja]

69. College kids can't even be troubled to vote

we could have beat Bush handily if they had.

[robertpaulsen]

62. Perhaps when a gallon of gas is more than minimum wage...

people will protest accordingly.

What do you think of this?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x841713

Thanks.

[TankLV]

63. SPOILED. ROTTEN.

+ self centered.I

think that explains it all.

[Seen the light]

67. I'm so sick of this crap

Stop painting my generation with a broad brush. Sure, most of us are morons, but there are millions and millions of young people that have protested things like the war in Iraq in the past years. Yet our efforts go unnoticed by so many people that continue to deride as clueless. I'm sick of it.

[Ksec]

70. Its not just the youth

Its everyone.

Blaming youth is too easy . Just go down to yer local watering hole and listen. About half this country is freakin clueless.

[Comadreja]

71. The media loves to show rioting french kids

But it studiously ignored the millions who protested our invasion of Iraq and the millions more in the streets over the immigration bill. The neoCons have adopted a press blackout strategy as the way to neutralize mass protests.

[Iris]

65. oblivious or cynical

I always am amazed at people who describe themselves as "not politcal" How can you be alive and NOT be political? Everything's political!?!

But I am starting to understand the "it's all corrupt" thinking - where you figure nothing you do will matter.

[Ariana Celeste]

72. If that's your myspace profile linked from your DU profile...

making you 22, then you are one of us, and I certainly hope you are really active to be making a broad brush statement like this.
I'm 20. I party, I smoke pot. I'm active. Most of my friends are in their 20's and they are all partiers, and they are active.
We are no less active then any other generation.