Frank Luntz shares inspiring West Point focus group footage

[Music] where were you born I was born in Iraq sir and why are you here I'm here because I want to serve the nation that gave me the American dream the US Army as a whole uh and the American institution has given my family an outlet to chase the American dream welcome back to Sunday night in America most of what we hear about young people today saddens us there's depression and loneliness and uncertainty about the future and a dangerous Reliance on social media but there are young people willing to serve this country because they believe in this idea called America Frank L sat down with some of these young people and what he found moved him and will likely move you too welcome Frank these young people could have gotten into any school in America and yet they chose one of the toughest routes why they're exceptional and extraordinary human beings and only at West Point because of their commitment to serve they don't think what can America do for me they think what can they do for America and they do it every single day PR people like uh talking about motive uh let's listen to what motivates these young people and then I'll ask you a question on the other side can several of you tell me what West Point means to you personally for me it's a calling it's a sense of Duty something that isn't tasked upon me but something that I feel as if I need to do for my family for my fellow Americans and most importantly for my friends here Duty the word Duty how did that strike you when you heard that I mean we don't hear that word that often in our culture the word Duty oh and honor and Country it's been the motto there for more than 100 years and they live it every single day I've had the chance to lecture up there and I'm going to be teaching there in the fall it's the greatest honor I've ever had because I truly place these Cadets above me because they place the country and the Constitution above everything else and they're dedicated to service they're dedicated to sacrifice and that's what makes them so remarkable Frank there are Elite schools which do not require the discipline of a West Point uh let's listen together and find out why they chose this tougher rout westw is really really good at finding something that you're bad at and they will make you get good at it they will force you and it it is really tough it builds a lot of character my dad was a former Marine and I'll never forget him telling me that they were not going to allow me to fail and I think being here there's not a single scenario that I can think of where someone would not be beside you behind you in front of you leading the way for you Frank I've watched the uh as much of this interview that you did as can be found and you seemed genuinely moved by some of what you heard so what hit you the hardest emotionally interacting and questioning these young people wouldn't want them as their kids this is everything we dream of not the selfishness and the self-centeredness but the idea that there is a bigger purpose in life and they want to serve that purpose you speak of how hard it is the challenges that they have I I followed them I can't pick up 100 lb ruck sack and put it on my back I can't carry a 20 or 30 lb gun and they do it for each other the level of commitment and the level of Courage that they have is something unprecedented and I'm thinking God I would love to have one of these people as my children my child because it's everything that we as parents want to see in the Next Generation courage commitment service sacrifice it's who they are and it's how they live I think you answered it but I'm going to ask it anyway what motivated you to want to do this project I mean you do focus groups all the time people pay you lots of money to figure things out this seemed to me like a labor of love for you uh it's more than that it's it's the reason why I'm here it's it's man you always figure out a way to to to get me I have seen the best of the best and they have the honor to try to provide them with the skills and the talents and to try to participate in that educational process and I'm listening to them speak and the level of sacrifice and they're telling me about the challenges of of their parents and one of the young gentlemen who was here lost his father in uh in the Afghan Iraqi War and yet he serves he's a old star son and his story that he's telling me I can't help but being emotional we talk about service and sacrifice these young men and women and I want to emphasize the women now because they are truly incredible they are the best that America has to offer and they do it every day and they do it without apology and they do it without reward and it just it makes me feel great it makes me be a proud American Trey because they are the best break it is about service and sacrifice but you have also provided us with more than a dash of Hope which is desperately needed in our culture so thank you for doing this and thank you for joining us on a Sunday night