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The end of the generation gap

11 comments on The end of the generation gap

The end of the generation gap
: Note this poll on MTV:

Among people voting in MTVNews.com’s polls, 60 percent either strongly support or somewhat support the action, while 37 percent are either strongly opposed or somewhat opposed to the war.

Now note this poll about the American population in general:

About two-thirds of Americans approve of President Bush’s handling of the situation in Iraq and think he did enough diplomatically before invading, according to a new poll released Friday.

The ABC-Washington Post poll found the president’s job approval rating at 67 percent, up from pre-war polls that showed his approval level ranging from the mid 50s to about 60 percent….

Overall support for the war is 72 percent.

If you have the impression that the anti-war movement is primarily the young, you’re wrong. The youth of America are in sync with the rest of America. This isn’t like Vietnam.

Granted, the end of the draft could have something to do with that.

But I also think that — thanks to pop culture — the generation gap has collapsed.

The Rolling Stones can be hot still, two or three generations after they started. Eminem can have fans forty years older than he is. And kids of all ages love American Idol.

Pop culture bridged the generations long ago.

Now the war is not splitting them apart.

11 responses to “The end of the generation gap”

  1. Balbulican Avatar
    Balbulican

    Interesting confirmation of one theory…American Presidents in trouble can create a huge surge in their approval ratings by going to war. Not that that would ever enter their decision making, of course…

  2. scott h. Avatar
    scott h.

    Yeah, it sure worked for Bush Sr.

  3. Oliver Avatar
    Oliver

    Considering some conversations I’ve had recently with some of the younger generation, I’d also so say they’re quite uninformed. Which is sad since they’ve got the news of the universe at their fingertips.

  4. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    And the great Winston Churchill was unable to get re-elected after WWII.

  5. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Oliver, you are the younger generation! If you aren’t, then I hate to think what I am!

  6. Derrick Avatar
    Derrick

    I’m a member of “youth culture” (I’m 17), and I’ll say:
    1.yes, the majority of youth are supportive of the war, at least at my school, and have been recently vocal about it.
    2. Most are uninformed, yes. I don’t see a lot of political interest in my generation, at least nothing past the immediate community level. Of course, I’m speaking in broad generalizations, but I suppose such is necessary when discussing entire age brackets.
    3. In my area, left-leaning kids seemed to be a bit more informed, but not enough to be considered substantial. I think most of this has to do with the fact that I live in a conservative state, coupled with the fact that the youth left have an entire culture revolving around their politics (punk rock, Michael Moore films, etc.) There really isn’t a Right version of such a culture (to my chargrin).
    (Mind you, when I say “left-leaning”, I mean “Dead Kennedys album on headphones, with a redwashed Che shirt”.)

  7. Matt McIrvin Avatar
    Matt McIrvin

    Among people I know I’d say that few are really pro-war, but anti-war sentiment is much more certain and passionate among baby boomers (some of whom served in Vietnam).

  8. Oliver Avatar
    Oliver

    *I’m* the younger generation? Sheesh.

  9. Mike T Avatar
    Mike T

    This poll doesn’t tell us anything. It’s completely unscientific and hardly a representative sample. Don’t college students count as ‘youth’ in America? Countless demonstrations have cropped up on our nation’s campuses.

  10. Frank Falafel Avatar
    Frank Falafel

    repeat: the poll is a meaningless unscientific poll on their website just like the one that claimed that 99% of all O’Reliey Factor watchers hate the French

  11. HH Avatar
    HH

    Unscientific or not, it’s opposite to MTV’s coverage.