The french have a famous saying, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose“ which gave rise to the well-known English phrase “The more things change, the more they stay the same."
Alphonse Karr, an all-round writer, coined the phrase in 1849. One wonders, has the famous saying played out in reality, have things remained constant? Why has this phrase carried on 160 years later? As a species we have advanced almost beyond recognition in many respects; our technology has improved out of sight, our world has changed around us, even our appearance and physiology has evolved as we continue to. The inherent truth of the phrase though, lies not in the world around us, but within ourselves. When Karr, at the then old age of 41, published those words it was no doubt a dry, witty observation of society at the time; perhaps an expression of frustration. The phrase though, could also be seen as the manifestation of a desire, of a need - of what he wanted. It's carried the last 160 years because it is what we want. For things to stay the same is our collective desire.
Consider that certain aspects of life do remain the same. Notably everything inherently human; in that people themselves are likely to be and to remain the same. Our appearances may evolve as the species continues to but the intangible aspects; the soul, for lack of a better word, is the same as it has always been and will continue to be. In terms of people, Alphonse Karr's phrase seemingly is true. Applied to stuff, the environment in which we reside, it is an impossibility. Change is a constant, a necessary, a fundamental rule of life to be accepted.
It is therefore that our lives are lived within a constant friction. An ever-present battle between ourselves and our environment. One force being a constant with the other in perpetual motion. How does one cope against this friction then? The fact that in life all experiences, both good and bad, are fleeting. The future becomes the present, the present the past, with moments filtered through to the memory. To continually seek new experiences, to push forward, rather than holding on to the past experiences is one of the great challenges in life.
When one is young, change is sought after and pursued without inhibition. To experience new things is a precious high. An incredible gift that provides stimulation, excitement and joy. As one continues in life, and more change is experienced, greater friction is generated. The changing environment, like chalk on a blackboard, starts to wear away at a person. A loss of a job, of a friend, of a family member takes its toll. The thought of finding a new job, seeing new places, meeting new people, making new friends becomes too much. The desire to experience anything new, everything from things to even people, is restricted in a selfish bid to comfort the soul.
Thus as the population ages, the status-quo in general is sought after. The romantic notion is the change they sought, they feel has now been accomplished. That the world is now right in their view - or at least they feel they've contributed enough. The reality seems harshly different. Rather than withdrawing content with the world around them, it is rather to seek protection from the paralyzing grind of change. The amount of wear that a person's soul can take is not defined but it is inevitable that a person will reach a stage in which a routine is sought, formed and maintained. A stage where change is feared and feverishly fought against. Their desire to have things remain the same being sacrosanct.
Age though is not the right word, it's easy to bring age into this discussion but it's actually irrelevant. It is their strength that is most crucial. Or rather, it's their perspective. What does one need? A recognition that a status-quo exists. That a system is in place. That not all benefit. That they are not the only one who matters in the world. That all humanity is equal but is not currently treated as such. That is this unacceptable.
It is up to these people. Those who don't fear change. Those who seek, with open minds, new experiences, realities and world orders. Those who hold a desire to challenge the status-quo. Their difficultly, they are the minority. A system of routine is in their way. A system to service and support those who have accepted their place. Those who seek to go about their routine in as much ease as possible.
The system is clever, it's been well created, but the energy is misguided. Our best minds are currently directed towards the most suitable colour in which to market their company's respective brand of cereal and how to efficiently target the most gambling-prone demographic to maximise value for their shareholders. Our attention's directed towards tabloid newspapers and TV shows featuring our favourite celebrities. The fact shows these shows, which repeat the same programs about weight-loss, noisy neighbours and drug-busts on a yearly cycle, rate so highly proves the system is definitely effective. While the public sector, the majority of which is caught up on traffic fines, utility rises and teacher's holidays, has degraded into a mired bureaucracy about as efficient as a Ferrari on ice. It is easy to get caught up it in all; fighting such an omnipresent and immovable object appears seemingly impossible. It's easy to accept that this is all there is to it.
We as a race may hold a collective desire to stay the same but if we wish to improve and grow we need to force change. The people, the ones without the fear of change holding them back, the ones who have open minds, are pushing us forward. Its too easy to accept the status-quo, that this is the best we can do. With so much imperfection, so much injustice in the world, it must be refused. This is the way we advance.
Alphonse Karr, an all-round writer, coined the phrase in 1849. One wonders, has the famous saying played out in reality, have things remained constant? Why has this phrase carried on 160 years later? As a species we have advanced almost beyond recognition in many respects; our technology has improved out of sight, our world has changed around us, even our appearance and physiology has evolved as we continue to. The inherent truth of the phrase though, lies not in the world around us, but within ourselves. When Karr, at the then old age of 41, published those words it was no doubt a dry, witty observation of society at the time; perhaps an expression of frustration. The phrase though, could also be seen as the manifestation of a desire, of a need - of what he wanted. It's carried the last 160 years because it is what we want. For things to stay the same is our collective desire.
Consider that certain aspects of life do remain the same. Notably everything inherently human; in that people themselves are likely to be and to remain the same. Our appearances may evolve as the species continues to but the intangible aspects; the soul, for lack of a better word, is the same as it has always been and will continue to be. In terms of people, Alphonse Karr's phrase seemingly is true. Applied to stuff, the environment in which we reside, it is an impossibility. Change is a constant, a necessary, a fundamental rule of life to be accepted.
It is therefore that our lives are lived within a constant friction. An ever-present battle between ourselves and our environment. One force being a constant with the other in perpetual motion. How does one cope against this friction then? The fact that in life all experiences, both good and bad, are fleeting. The future becomes the present, the present the past, with moments filtered through to the memory. To continually seek new experiences, to push forward, rather than holding on to the past experiences is one of the great challenges in life.
When one is young, change is sought after and pursued without inhibition. To experience new things is a precious high. An incredible gift that provides stimulation, excitement and joy. As one continues in life, and more change is experienced, greater friction is generated. The changing environment, like chalk on a blackboard, starts to wear away at a person. A loss of a job, of a friend, of a family member takes its toll. The thought of finding a new job, seeing new places, meeting new people, making new friends becomes too much. The desire to experience anything new, everything from things to even people, is restricted in a selfish bid to comfort the soul.
Thus as the population ages, the status-quo in general is sought after. The romantic notion is the change they sought, they feel has now been accomplished. That the world is now right in their view - or at least they feel they've contributed enough. The reality seems harshly different. Rather than withdrawing content with the world around them, it is rather to seek protection from the paralyzing grind of change. The amount of wear that a person's soul can take is not defined but it is inevitable that a person will reach a stage in which a routine is sought, formed and maintained. A stage where change is feared and feverishly fought against. Their desire to have things remain the same being sacrosanct.
Age though is not the right word, it's easy to bring age into this discussion but it's actually irrelevant. It is their strength that is most crucial. Or rather, it's their perspective. What does one need? A recognition that a status-quo exists. That a system is in place. That not all benefit. That they are not the only one who matters in the world. That all humanity is equal but is not currently treated as such. That is this unacceptable.
It is up to these people. Those who don't fear change. Those who seek, with open minds, new experiences, realities and world orders. Those who hold a desire to challenge the status-quo. Their difficultly, they are the minority. A system of routine is in their way. A system to service and support those who have accepted their place. Those who seek to go about their routine in as much ease as possible.
The system is clever, it's been well created, but the energy is misguided. Our best minds are currently directed towards the most suitable colour in which to market their company's respective brand of cereal and how to efficiently target the most gambling-prone demographic to maximise value for their shareholders. Our attention's directed towards tabloid newspapers and TV shows featuring our favourite celebrities. The fact shows these shows, which repeat the same programs about weight-loss, noisy neighbours and drug-busts on a yearly cycle, rate so highly proves the system is definitely effective. While the public sector, the majority of which is caught up on traffic fines, utility rises and teacher's holidays, has degraded into a mired bureaucracy about as efficient as a Ferrari on ice. It is easy to get caught up it in all; fighting such an omnipresent and immovable object appears seemingly impossible. It's easy to accept that this is all there is to it.
We as a race may hold a collective desire to stay the same but if we wish to improve and grow we need to force change. The people, the ones without the fear of change holding them back, the ones who have open minds, are pushing us forward. Its too easy to accept the status-quo, that this is the best we can do. With so much imperfection, so much injustice in the world, it must be refused. This is the way we advance.
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