The Peter Pan Syndrome*

What has happened to American men? My sister calls it the Peter Pan Syndrome from the book of the same name by Dr. Dan Kiley. The syndrome is a disease that begins with spoiling a male child right from birth through grade school into college and beyond. The "adults" that emerge from this reality-cheating chrysalis are still uncertain of their own genders, still depending on mom and dad, still wondering what to do in life, still stifled under bad credit. Worst of all, they are selfish because they were brought up to be that way.

The original Peter Pan character was played by a girl, Mary Martin. (See photo). A perfect example of confused gender, but back then it was for theatrical reasons, not meant to be a template for either sex to follow.

Today, young college graduate wings are still wet and their first flight has not been planned yet. Once they emerge from the gooey falsehood of domestic tranquility attached to mother's apron strings, will we gaze upon moths heading to the flame or graceful monarchs flying in clouds of youthful chaos?

Ultimately these naive kids must define themselves as separate beings from friends, parents, cult heroes and their own sense of worthlessness reinforced at every moment by Old Grandad. He, representative of the disabled Vietnam Vet, remembering when Americans gave a hoot about America.

Today's leaders are great at mostly leading from behind. The 1960s fomented and gave birth to the "me, me, me" movement that prized self-expression above family, country and God.

Political leaders now are merely expert at pandering to their respective bases.

Juxtapose that with the brave souls who went to 'Nam. The moment they landed they knew Peter the mystique was dead. By the following month they would go from a wild-eyed 18-year-old to a jaded 30-year-old ... or maybe not. Depended on what Charlie had to say about that.

American women have endured enough bias and prejudice and their time is long past due for them individually and as a group to reap the rewards of endurance and persistence after battling "male chauvinist pigs" for centuries.

Only good things will come to our harsh culture if we have a distaff champion of peace. Regardless of gender, keep in mind that absolute power corrupts absolutely and we're not talking vodka here my friends.

The only problem I see with more and more women in power is that more and more men will devolve into Peter Pans. Eventually male babies will grow wings and flitter about as the women take care of business .... but wait, that's already been happening for many years.

*The Peter Pan Syndrome:
Peter Pan Syndrome is an inability to engage in adulthood. The term comes from  Peter Pan, who never ages. Read "Men Who Have Never Grown Up" by Dan Kiley (1983).

Gary Bégin’s opinions are not the official views of NCW Media. To reach him email: gary@ncwmedia.net. Any email is subjected to publication as a “letter to the editor” unless explicitly requested not to do so.