A Sampling: How Young Americans See the World /

If an 18-year-old Bostonian named Henry is any guide, America is in deep trouble. ON a world map, he placed Baghdad in Europe, Kabul in West Africa, and Rome in Southern Argentina. Asked to name the world’s five most pressing issues, he cited Darfur, although he thought it was in Saudi Arabia. He came up with only two other crises to worry about: the “war on terror” and Kenya.

Henry did not mention climate change. In fact, of 118 young people sampled in February 2008 in Tucson and Boston by University of Arizona and Tufts University students, only 36 put global warming among the most serious domestic or international crises facing a new president. In Tucson, where drought is calamitous, aquifers are vanishing, and distant rivers are over-committed, no one mentioned water.

People were stopped at random and asked to list, in order, five main priorities for a new president and five international crises demanding attention. And they were asked to locate Kabul, Baghdad, Darfur, Moscow, and Rome.

The results show a slim minority with a firm grasp on world realities. Many, however, seem unaware and unconcerned—or closely focused on narrow issues.

For new priorities, 35 people wanted an end to war in Iraq; 22 cited the U.S. economy. Health care came third and 12, and environment was fourth at six. Four called abortion the top priority, as many named as global warming (a 19-year-old in Tucson advised: “stop worrying about global warming.”) Only one person mentioned education.

International crises were too diffuse to tabulate. Only 13 people mentioned hunger and poverty. Fewer than half could name five world crises, and five could not think of any at all.

On cited a top priority as policing blood diamonds; for another, it was Chinese toys.

Like Henry in Boston, 22-year-old Ashley in Tucson thought Darfur was the world’s most pressing issue, but she had no idea where it was.

The map quiz was distressing. In Boston, Michelle, 22, put Baghdad in the Arabian peninsula, Darfur in Southeast Asia, and she had never heard of Kabul. Sarah 19, had Kabul in Arabia, Darfur in China, Baghdad in Central Asia, and Moscow in Eastern Europe. Both, however, got Rome right. Lydia in Tucson, 21, thought Kabul was in Iraq; several others put Baghdad in Iran.

Overall, only 20 of the 118 respondents got all five places right; 10 of them got every one wrong. Still, there was promise among those with a perfect score.

Denise in Boston, at 19, might be a policy advisor in an effective White House. Her domestic hit list starts with global warming followed by education, foreign policy, health care, and the economy. Internationally, she targets world hunger, climate change, water scarcity, the spread of arms among warlords, and unbridled globalization.

In Tucson, 20-year-old Conner also had the world map down cld. His priorities are changing climate, Iraq, world poverty, civil liberties, government spending, energy, trade, and immigration.

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In America / Essays / Survey