Let the Children Lead

By: Dana Blankenhorn

I have written often here about "generational politics," the idea that current politics are dominated by the issues and attitudes and alliances of the Nixon Era, and that a new kind of politics is needed to move forward.

What has happened in the past is that new leadership groups came along, at the tail end of an earlier era, who began the turn which culminated as the younger cadres they recruited came of age.

Let me shorten that. Young people are the key.

In the 1960s conservatives were funding a host of organizations, like the Young Republicans and Young Americans for Freedom, who drew stares and snickers on their college campuses, but who would wind up running the country through Reaganisn and right until today.

The netroots are a great source for these people. The Dean campaign was a great source for these people.

My point is we need to reach out and create organizational structures, and causes, that will bring us more of these people.

And then we need to let go. We can guide, we can help, we can offer wisdom. But this is their world. We need to consider just how to empower them.

I think churches can help us in this. Last night I picked up my son from a youth group meeting sponsored by his church. They were discussing what to do about Katrina, and what to do about their own plans for a pilgrimage to Scotland. There were some church elders there, and some heated discussions. But the point is the kids were heard, their feelings were validated, and they were empowered by the experience.

One big advantage a liberal church (like the one my son goes to) has over a conservative one is just this – they listen. And they follow. The priorities of these young people are going to become the priorities that are followed, certainly based on guidance, but followed.

That’s the model I want to see us adopt. We need to listen to younger people, empower them, guide them, nurture them, then let them go.

And then hope they are ready to support our retirements, whenever those retirements happen.

Dana Blankenhorn dana@a-clue.com
Editor: voic.us Posted by Jock Gill at September 20, 2005 1:47 PM | TrackBack