2008 Woodie Awards
Iraq War: what do students really know?
Ian Frazier
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Perspectives
The U.S. is now entering its 5th year in the Iraqi war. But do students realize what events are really unraveling overseas?
"I don't really follow the war enough to necessarily agree or disagree with it," said junior Val Triarsi. "Overall I support our government and our troops, but by just tuning into the news it doesn't even seem like we are really at war."
Junior Pat Bonner thinks that the general public is not fully aware of the war at hand. "The thing is, most Americans live their daily life no differently than if we had never entered Iraq. The most people are consciously kept aware of the war are by bumper stickers to support the troops."
It seems that due to the television media's coverage of this war, students cannot expect the facts and the stories to come to them, therefore turn to other forms of media.
"I don't think a lot of people realize the seriousness of what is going on in Iraq," said junior Nate Huot. "I think that if people knew more about what was going on, their attitudes might change. Collectively, people are just stupid."
The war in Iraq has cost over $12 billion to the citizens of Connecticut alone, and over $500 billion to the entire nation, according to CostOfWar.com.
The war is not just costing money but costing the lives of thousands. According to Iraqbodycount.org, there have currently been between 82,771 - 90,304 documented civilian deaths from violence in Iraq.
Do students feel that the war is going to change in the near future?
"I think that we are going to be there [Iraq] for many years to come," said junior Kyle O'Connell. "I feel like there needs to remain some sort of presence in Iraq to preserve any stability."
"It seems that the armed forces have enough trained forces to fight the current ongoing war," said junior Nick Lipeika. "However due to decreased support of the war and possible long-term involvement in Iraqi affairs, our younger siblings or even next generation may fall in the middle of a draft."
Some students on the other hand, feel a little differently about the future of the war and the U.S.
"I would hope that we will be capable to remove ourselves from the war in Iraq and let them take control without insurgents causing problems within their country." said junior Matt Cook. "We need to start focusing on our economy and how to improve it."
Cook is not alone on the many who feel that the war should not be our country's main focus.
"The economy is suffering right now," said junior Mike Staropoli. "The value of the American dollar is going down, and in this case I don't think the war is helping."
Junior Bobby Congalton put it simply, "We have important things happening on our own soil."
"I don't really follow the war enough to necessarily agree or disagree with it," said junior Val Triarsi. "Overall I support our government and our troops, but by just tuning into the news it doesn't even seem like we are really at war."
Junior Pat Bonner thinks that the general public is not fully aware of the war at hand. "The thing is, most Americans live their daily life no differently than if we had never entered Iraq. The most people are consciously kept aware of the war are by bumper stickers to support the troops."
It seems that due to the television media's coverage of this war, students cannot expect the facts and the stories to come to them, therefore turn to other forms of media.
"I don't think a lot of people realize the seriousness of what is going on in Iraq," said junior Nate Huot. "I think that if people knew more about what was going on, their attitudes might change. Collectively, people are just stupid."
The war in Iraq has cost over $12 billion to the citizens of Connecticut alone, and over $500 billion to the entire nation, according to CostOfWar.com.
The war is not just costing money but costing the lives of thousands. According to Iraqbodycount.org, there have currently been between 82,771 - 90,304 documented civilian deaths from violence in Iraq.
Do students feel that the war is going to change in the near future?
"I think that we are going to be there [Iraq] for many years to come," said junior Kyle O'Connell. "I feel like there needs to remain some sort of presence in Iraq to preserve any stability."
"It seems that the armed forces have enough trained forces to fight the current ongoing war," said junior Nick Lipeika. "However due to decreased support of the war and possible long-term involvement in Iraqi affairs, our younger siblings or even next generation may fall in the middle of a draft."
Some students on the other hand, feel a little differently about the future of the war and the U.S.
"I would hope that we will be capable to remove ourselves from the war in Iraq and let them take control without insurgents causing problems within their country." said junior Matt Cook. "We need to start focusing on our economy and how to improve it."
Cook is not alone on the many who feel that the war should not be our country's main focus.
"The economy is suffering right now," said junior Mike Staropoli. "The value of the American dollar is going down, and in this case I don't think the war is helping."
Junior Bobby Congalton put it simply, "We have important things happening on our own soil."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
SarahMarie
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:39 AM EST
I think that we will get out of this war but somehow we will fall into another one. For me our country isn't thinking about the future, they are thinking about what is happening right now. (Continued…)
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