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Why march around holding signs when you can study hard, get an important job in a political campaign or in private industry, and go on to a career as a real political player?
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<p>My S would likely agree. At 18, he's on his third political internship and third political campaign. He's on the board of the biggest political organization at his college (Berkeley) and writes for a campus political rag, of which he will be the editor next year. He's been to two political conventions, participated in a public debate and went to political retreat this school year. He's met a half dozen major state and local politicians. Rather than marching, he's spent the majority of his time trying to get out the vote, both on campus and in various communities around the university. And, yes, much of his work is done by internet and cell. He's extremely well read and well-versed on political issues, but he doesn't drop everything to join mass protests. I think he would see the emotional value in them, but not the practical, and his time is so limited that if he thinks a political action will not lead to concrete results, he probably will choose to act in some other way.</p>
<p>He did participate in a march once though. At age 15, he was on a trip to Europe with students and teachers from his school over Spring break. Everywhere they went, Europeans were protesting against the US over the war in Iraq. By the time he got to the last leg of his trip, Rome, he bought a peace flag, broke away from his tour group and joined the Italians for a few hours. It was amazing, he said.</p>