"They clearly want us out, even though [the violence] is directed at Iraq," Bennett said. "Some Iraqi forces are working with us, and the violent resistance really has more to do with resentment for the U.S. occupying foreign land."
John Stewart, a lecturer in political science at Penn State, said democracy couldn't be imposed on a country by invading powers.
"You can't impose democracy on any count, it must be built in. Right now there is a power contest, as to who will survive, internal to the country," Stewart said.
Stewart also said the clashes between Iraq and the United States are the result of historical conflicts.
"We've killed a lot of Iraqi citizens over the course of a year, and they resent that. But it's more of a longstanding resentment when we tried to form a revolution after the '91 war," he added.
A couple of Penn State students expressed their mixed feelings about voting and democracy in their lives.
Brian Miller (senior-biology) said he does not vote and probably won't register in Pennsylvania. "I'm too lazy to take care of registration," Miller said. "Voting probably wouldn't even make a difference there. But I guess freedom is taken for granted here."
Stefanie Sirb (sophomore-accounting), on the other hand, said she is an active voter and a huge advocate of its importance.
"My dad brought me up watching political debates, and I even filled out the registration before I was 18," Sirb said.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, in the last presidential election, only 36 percent of Pennsylvanians between the ages 18 and 24 voted.
This is a decrease of 11 percent since 1972.
Stewart, who spent 30 years in the military, said the youth on campus are lacking in active participation when it comes to voting.
"The males today on campus aren't threatened with the draft. If we had one, we would see many more 18- to 24-year-olds active, like in the 60s," Stewart said.
He also said that as long as students and young Americans are not personally involved, participation in political issues would remain at a minimum.
"Some students have friends and family over there, are concerned for their safety and are therefore involved," Stewart added.
"But we take [democracy] for granted because it's a given right, and we don't have to work for it."
Miller and Sirb both said many people in this country, and more specifically at Penn State, take democratic rights for granted.
"I think we should all feel very privileged when we can look at other countries and then look at ourselves," Sirb said. "We don't have to say the Pledge if we don't want to, and in other countries, if you go against the government, you can get shot."
The culture clashes between American freedoms and overseas customs can bring about positive and negative consequences, Bennett said.
"People with different experiences admire the U.S. ... but also in a bad way, because it can be seen as arrogance, because we do take [democracy] for granted and focus on our own prosperity," he added.
Stewart said youth participation in the government and citizens' rights can be considered fading memories.
"Getting students interested in the war in Iraq is like pulling teeth, but it wasn't in the '60s. That's when campuses were alive," he said.
The deadline to register for the general primary election is