I have sometimes wondered why Americans have so little stomach for war now. I heard one explanation on the radio this morning for why the American people were behind all of World War 2, but can't seem to stand a few years of war in Iraq.
The radio commentator pointed out that only in more recent times has there been a continual flow of news from the war front. In previous wars, news came as a result of a battle or large troop movement. People at home were not exposed to the horrors of war every day. They were insulated, and their support lasted much longer.
Today, news streams continually from the war front. We hear more about the small skirmishes, the casualties and dangers. While the news may all be true, it wears on societies patience. The continual news stream certainly seems to contribute to America's lack of patience and our inability to stay behind a war effort.
I think this theory has a lot of merit, although I think there are other factors that contribute to it. Our culture has become one of instant gratification and selfishness. I think that even if we only had the slow trickle of news, as in times past, we would still have trouble sticking with a war. I think that the flow of news is large contributer, although not the only contributer, to our societal ADD.
1 comment:
I concure that the rate and amount of news information is not the sole cause in the decline of America's opinion of war. However, the thought of how the rate of information and how the medium used to communicate the information affects a person's worldview is very interesting.
"Amusing Ourselves to Death" By Neil Postman presents a thesis on this topic.
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