We are a nation that likes to live in denial. We seek to deny that we face serious challenges domestically and internationally to continue our great way of life.

This is generally true of people of all ages, but particularly true of younger generations. The traditional image of the idealistic, liberal college student only fits somewhat to what I've noticed around Penn State.

All are not liberal, but most are idealistic of the future. I've come to the conclusion, near the end of my time here at Penn State, that most of this optimism is well-intentioned -- but misplaced.

The United States will be faced with tremendous choices in the decades ahead, as generational and social disputes will flare up in response to problems we will face. We are already starting to see these sources of strife: Terrorism, religion vs. secularism, and the aging population of the advanced world.

Fortunately, everything is fine -- if you listen to the mainstream media and the commonly prevailing thought.

Looking at what we usually see on the nightly news and papers such as USA Today -- you can get a headline and a few sensationalized details. Do you want real analysis or some context to the story? You're looking in the wrong place.

I don't know if the media are trying not to scare the American public and are just trying to keep people happy. I do know the media are packaging reality into something much fluffier and less stressful than it really is.

Monday afternoon at about 1 p.m., the various leading headlines from Fox News and CNN included: "Survey finds flying cheap can be best (CNN)," and "Church prays for stoning mom (Fox)." Each Web site also had an article about a new study that states kids watching television have a greater risk of developing attention deficit disorder. It's not "Man bites dog," but it's often close enough.

Things aren't nearly as sunny as they are portrayed to be. While the media do mention Iraq quite often, why don't we hear about the grim situation in Afghanistan very often? What about the anthrax attacks from 2001? The mainstream media are not reporting the news it needs to inform the public of. It has skirted important information about 9/11, the war on terror and potential Bush administration deception of Republican House members over the true costs of the Medicare bill it passed.

If it seems as though I'm blaming the media too much, I am. The media, like most industries operating in a capitalist economy, deliver to their subscribers what they demand. This is not, then, entirely the fault of the media: The American public and we idealists ultimately deserve some of the culpability. We should think of how things are on the whole, rather than how they are often portrayed.

Look across the various sectors of our life. Political partisanship is rising and participation is lacking. Whether it is over abortion or gay marriage, Americans are nearly evenly divided on basic, fundamental social issues. The budget deficit, Social Security crunch and rising medical costs will place further burdens on our economy. The United States, like Europe and Japan, is aging. Then, of course, there is terror and weapons of mass destruction -- I hope these last two don't find each other. The United States faces hard generational choices in the decades ahead. The impending financial strain of Social Security and Medicare will pit our age group against our parents' voting bloc. It's pretty obvious which group has the upper hand politically.

Why is it that the battle between the religious right and the secularists is still raging so hard? This conflict between militant opponents has the potential to completely tear apart the social cohesion of this nation. Each side is so convinced of its intellectual superiority that even the slightest provocation sets off baseless accusations and mudslinging.

The war on terror, as we have seen, isn't the usual war. Normal wars have distinct battles and phases. Normal wars can be won. How do you win a war on terror? By avoiding defeat? Sadly, this is the case. This is a war that will continue until either side is completely eliminated. Although we have reduced Osama bin Laden's influence, there are plenty of terrorists willing to take his place.

I don't see things getting any better in the future unless drastic changes are made. I really do think that we have reached a peak as a society if we don't immediately start to fight this spread of bitterness and close-mindedness.

Democrats don't really have many viable plans, and their party is in disarray. The Republicans are inflicted with the opposite disease: They have many radical goals, but they are purging themselves ideologically to eliminate their moderate wing.

The George W. Bush/Sen. John Kerry election and the discourse surrounding it will not touch on the important substance of issues very well. The fact remains that most of the things I have mentioned are political suicide for an elected official to touch.

It may sound arrogant, but: If you do not care enough to pay attention to what is really going on in the world on a normal basis, don't decide to play the "enlightened" voter.

The media isn't just some faceless monolith. It is made up of real people -- like you and I -- who really do want to write about things that are important. They have the ability; give them the chance. This is not to say that it's wrong to be optimistic or idealistic.

But, gone overboard, it's not apathy -- it's ignorance.