Former U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder told a full-house audience Friday that Americans must decide what their destiny and that of the United States is.

During the Cold War, “We defined ourselves as what we were against,” she said. “During the 1990s, Americans became self-absorbed and focused on making money. It’s time for us to grow up,” she said.

Schroeder, who represented Denver in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1972 to 1996, was one of five panelists that addressed a full-house audience Nov. 1 in Sturm Auditorium. The forum was part of the continuing “Bridges to the Future” program started in September by Chancellor Daniel L. Ritchie in cooperation with Colorado State University.

Schroeder said she sees American identity changing from “You are what your parents are” to “You are what your children become,” Schroeder said. The greed that manifested itself in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in people no longer giving back to society.

“Mentoring [youth] becomes a very critical thing,” she said. “Cynicism is so prevalent.”

Jesse Thomas, former Republican candidate for Congress, said traditional values still count and are meaningful. “We should bridge between spiritual and secular aspects of our personality.”

Andrea Love, president of the Young Democrats at the University of Denver, said teamwork should prevail. “Why do we need a catastrophe?” to energize us, she asked.

Activism by young people “is essential,” she said, adding, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. Make your voice heard.”

Traci Butler, political science major at Colorado State University, agreed with Love. “Young people aren’t aware of what we can change,” she said.

Troy Eid, executive director for the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration, said Americans must confront the situation at hand. “What are people afraid of?” he said. “Iraq is a great example of what we should be talking about. What happens in the Middle East is wrong. Why can’t we say it’s wrong? Acting like an adult to me is leadership. There’s no excuse for not getting involved.”

The “Bridges to the Future” series continues Nov. 6 when Colorado State University presents “Leadership in Difficult Times,” a Monfort Lecture by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf.