New rules for kids at 39 Days pushing them to sidelines
Music is art, it is creative, it is expressive and it is intrinsically tied to human culture and society. It has been a part of human existence since we came out of the trees. One could argue that dance followed shortly after as an accent to music. Together they form a tight bond that is important to many cultures, if not all humans.
The fact that the 39 Days of July has decided to put a partial moratorium on this form of expression is saddening considering the organizers strong advocation for the arts. The children in our community should not be sidelined for their playfulness or enjoyment in the form of dance and they should not be compared to rotten vegetables. The printed festival etiquette not only marginalizes people in the community through words but also in location. Putting the children in a tent away from the venue insinuates that children should not be in the way of the quiet enjoyment of adults during the festival. A festival that takes place in a public space and is free for all (children included) to enjoy. Personal prerogatives for how the organizers would like to enjoy music should not be pushed onto the public.
That being said, respectful enjoyment should be had by all. This includes not climbing on monuments and proper guardianship over our young ones. That guardianship of our youth should not include the snuffing of creative expression. The children and families that are being put on the sidelines for this event are the future stewards of Duncan’s landmark music festival. They will remember being shuffled to the children’s tent. One can only hope that when the torch is passed to them they will restore the 39 Days of July to a family friendly venue.
Morgan Newington
Duncan