Why do you think Americans today don't follow war news as closely as they did during WWII?

Question

During World War II, everyone was glued to their radios, listening to the news. Now, it seems like not many americans follow the war in Iraq or Afghanistan unless they have a family member fighting there. Why do you think that is?
Or if you disagree, explain why you think Americans today still follow war news closely.

Answer 1

WWII was a general war against powerful enemies enemies which could have eventually mounted a threat to the US itself, had they been victorious in Russia and the far East. All military personnel in Europe, the far East and at sea were at some level of risk. Troops today certainly face risks in Iraq, but their numbers are much smaller than those involved in WW2.



Whatever you may think of the current wars, they do not involve the same risks as WW2. That is one reason why people are not following these wars to the same extent.



WW2 was a popular war, because ot the vicious politics of the Nazis and Imperial Japan. The same could be said for bin laden, Saddam and the Taliban, though they are less of a threat to people outside their areas of operation (that includes bin Laden, despite 9/11).



Another reason is that information is available today from a variety of sources. Back then, you had to listen to the radio when the news was on, or wait for the newspapers to arrive,

Answer 2

yes i agree that america is not following the war in iraq or afghanistan because it has a major threat from afghanistan as we have seen in on world trade center

Answer 3

The Viet Nam syndrome plus a very low boredom threshold.

Answer 4

Because the fate of the world isn't at stake today.

Answer 5

because that was the only news there was at the time