About 41.7 million people watched President Bush deliver the State of the Union address last week. Although a fairly significant increase in viewers from last year, the number isn’t that impressive considering the importance of the speech.

Also, not that impressive was the number of viewers considering what followed it, the equally intellectually stimulating “American Idol,” boasted 35 million viewers.

It’s true we can’t all be political enthusiasts, but a simple obligation as semi-informed Americans exists. Aside from occasionally reading the news, it’s a rational idea to tune in to a 51-minute speech once a year to see how our country is doing, and what needs to be done.

It doesn’t matter whether you like the speaker or not. You should care about the country.

In my afternoon class before the address, I told a friend I couldn’t make it to dinner because of the speech. “Why does it matter?” she asked.

Another friend laughed at me. “I hate politics,” she said. “I can’t believe you want to watch that. I’m going to watch the X Games. They are far more entertaining,” she explained. “And important.”

In a four-year, nationally acclaimed university, you would imagine that college students would be interested in listening to the president address ongoing international and national issues including healthcare, job markets, education, energy conservation and oil. Oh yes, and let’s not forget: we’re at war. These are significant issues.

What happened to political awareness?

After I watched the speech, I took a straw poll of about 40 classmates and friends asking if they watched the speech.

One said she taped it. One said he watched part of it and the rest had not watched. Most of them said they didn’t care what Bush said. Some said they didn’t like him, so they didn’t want to hear him talk. Others said they didn’t mind him, but they didn’t feel it was all that significant. Some said they found it too boring to even consider watching.

If we want to show the world that the youth is not politically apathetic by protesting, voting or campaigning, shouldn’t we at least first be knowledgeable about political issues?

Some may argue that they are politically aware enough without listening to Bush “promote war.”

Surprisingly enough, he did address more than war. Bush is the commander-in-chief; it probably wouldn’t do too much harm in listening to his plans for the upcoming year, whether you like him or not.

Democrat or Republican, we have a duty to listen, to soak up information, to hear both sides of an argument, to protest, or to agree or disagree with a politician. But above all, we have a duty to be well-informed about political affairs.

Oh, and besides that, the X Games air for five days while the State of the Union address takes less than an hour.