Commentary: Do You Hear The People Sing?

August 3rd, 2008 CoyoteJ Posted in Commentary |

Coyote is a
sometimes playful,
sometimes foolish,
sometimes wise,
archetypal figure
who often
gets into trouble.

It has been said that wars are old men sending young men to die. Coyote wonders if political conventions are old people sending young people to protest.

Coyote has noticed that the critical mass of the protest groups are idealistic twenty-something men and women. Of course, the young leading the way in challenging social ills has always been true. Universities and coffee shops have always been the seed-beds of passionate social critique. But Coyote is wondering, where exactly are the older people? What are they doing? Are concerned adults somehow sending young people to protest in their place? If so, why, and how does this work? If not, have the chronologically mature been unthinkingly absorbed into the machine? Have they sold out? Do their aging souls still rage against injustice? More darkly, is it true that those who can’t protest, teach? Or worse, is it true that those who can’t protest become journalists, and report on protesters? (oh my!)

Maybe conventions are old people sending young people to protest. Maybe conventions are every-four-years-ways for those who are a little older, and perhaps see a bit more of the complexities of life, to re-connect with something deeply meaningful, and a bit less complex. Maybe conventions are a stage, where older people send younger people to remind older people to keep on caring.

Coyote asks, do you hear the people sing?

CoyoteJ is a Jungian oriented psychotherapist in private practice in Denver, who is very interested in the psycho dynamics of how groups work, and how groups like the police and protesters will function in the passionate environment of the Democratic national Convention. To see more Coyote’s thoughts, check out his blog at CoyoteJ.blogspot.com.