Teens On Torture

In 1973, the United States made the decision to end the draft, resulting in an all-volunteer military force.  Since then, some critics have argued that subsequent generations of Americans, who have not experienced the draft, are “soft” and “weak”, especially the young men. This may be because many young Americans who have never experienced the draft have begun to take their liberties and privileges for granted, and have never had to prepare themselves to face the challenge of being torn away from their comfortable lives to go to war.  Perhaps this is why a recent study conducted by the Daily Beast reported that teenagers in America “look more favorably on torture”, especially in the war.

According to the study, more than 60% of American teens felt that things like “water-boarding and sleep deprivation” are sometimes acceptable. The support for torture that teens expressed far outstripped the support reported by adults. It is debatable as to whether this is attributable to the end of the draft, or perhaps to the Bush Administration’s decision to normalize torture. When the Commander and Chief makes that argument that torture is acceptable, it can have a profound influence on the values of the nation. Another possible factor shaping the opinions that teens have of torture could be the influence that the media has on the popular perceptions of war. The graphic war images that are so readily accessible today on the Internet, as well as through more traditional forms of media, such as television, could be a factor in making teens numb to the horrors of war.

Another possible source of the tolerance teens show for violence may be the prevalence of graphically violent video games. Through games such as “Counter Strike” and “Call of Duty,” young boys are exposed to violence and gore, and many come to see such violence as normal and even enjoyable. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association noted that when boys play violent video games, even for just a few minutes, they display elevated levels of aggression. The boys who played violent video games reported that they felt like behaving in a more aggressive manner, and wanted to do something violent. Statistics like these make me question why we allow such violent video games to be marketed to young people.

The acceptance that American teens display toward torture is a troubling sign for the future of our nation. The prohibition on torture has been an important principle that has guided our nation throughout its history.  If the next generation is willing to accept torture, and in doing so, sacrifice their freedom from being tortured, what other rights will they be willing to give up?  Should there be more censorship of the media and video games in order to educate our teens as to the importance of civil liberties? If our society decides that tortures such as waterboarding are acceptable, only worse will come after.