When our Country changes, is it not for the Good of its People?

Is this not progress?

Published on May 21, 2008 By foreverserenity In Blogging

Let me go ahead and make my "PC" statement now, this article, or what I say in it, my oberservations’ and opinions are in no way pointing to anyone or any individuals or in any way reflecting on any comments made previously by anyone.

My recent article about Gays and whether or not their marriage bothers anyone was an eye opener into the way some people view change, some positive, some not so positive and those views will never change.

We can't have progress without change. I don't see it and I'm sure neither does you dear readers, see progress without change.

I wonder sometimes what it is that makes some people so adamant about ‘change’ and all that it represents? Some of us will always be afraid of change because it simply means the life as we know it will no longer exist. You hear constant talk of what our country used to be like, in the beginning. In the beginning all that was, was great for our country back then, at that time. So how about now? Have the many changes that have happened over the years, been so bad for us?

What are the needs of our country as a whole? What are the needs of each of us on a whole? I couldn’t give an answer to satisfy you, probably only myself, and my responses would be guess work at what this would be for you.

It makes me very afraid to think that some would rather our country be left ‘in the dark ages’ and not have changed at all.

Without the changes that have happened, without the growth that has happened to the United States, I would not be here, neither would a lot of other cultures, or businesses; and sadly, I think that is the way some of the majority likes it.

If the changes that have happened over time to America, had not taken place, would there be no Gay people demanding their rights? No immigrants demanding their rights? The working class demanding their rights? No change would have been the best thing because life would have remained as it was for so many years in the past, right? This reasoning might seem exaggerated, but how else would you phrase this?

The one aspect of change that we have witnessed and are experiencing is the dissatisfaction that comes with change, or the unhappiness that is experienced because of it. When the majority’s needs are not met, and nothing is done to satisfy them, this does create a backlash of hate and fear.

Isn’t it inherent in humans to seek change for the betterment of them? As our society advance through technology and the needs thereof, so will it need to advance socially and the needs that goes with it, for the good of the people.

I found a book online "Interpreting Social Change in America" written by Professor Norman F. Washbourne, I am linking a copy of a summary of one of the chapters in his book. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=85621183

He made some observations in his Study that are quite interesting regarding Change in America and how it affects its people.

Comments (Page 2)

foreverserenity

on May 22, 2008

Change usually has two sides. There are those who benefit and those who do not. Those who benefit are the ones who consider it good those who do not consider it bad. There have been good changes as MasonM points out. There are some changes that have been bad as well.

This is true!

I think why most people are resistant to change is fear. When people don't understand something or something is different from them more times than not they fear it.

Agreed, and this is the normal reaction for anyone! People don't let go of their fear of change until they see the outcome or what the promise is for them. Will it be better, will it make their lives worse?

But sometimes one just can not avoid change and all one can do is adapt. But I refuse to have to adapt to changes that will only make things worse, not better.

I agree with this also. It would not be good to change if things are going to be worse, but sometimes how do we know it won't get better if we don't give the change a chance?!

Change is good. Just think how it would be if you never changed your underwear.

Uggghhhhh! [knocks visual out of head~]

Starstriker1

on May 23, 2008

Well, let's not knock conservatism too hard here.

I'm going to use the analogy of a boat here... liberalism (in the sense of being pro-change) is the engine, conservativism (resistance to change) is the anchor, and the driver is the "will of the people".

This article basically asks why you would want that anchor slowing down your perfectly good boat. Well, I'm just going to go out on a limb here and establish the fact that pretty much everyone already knows: the "will of the people" is retarded! Let that driver go too fast, and he's not going to come to his senses, he's just going to plow into a dock and bring the whole thing to a screeching halt. In this sense, or proverbial anchor keeps the engine from making everything go out of control.

Forgetting my laboured analogy, the liberal attitude is "we need to change this, this and this, and then..." while the conservative attitude is "whoa! WHOA! QUIT MESSING WITH MY THINGS YOU NUT!", which ideally balances out into "careful progress". It's the same with authoritarianism vs libertarianism... the authoritarians remind us that people are too stupid to handle themselves, while the libertarians remind us of the power and utility of freedom. Political forces in general don't having a "stopping point"... they need another political force to put the breaks on when things are going out of control. It's old greek wisdom, but it's still appropriate: everything in moderation.

So, while the desire for change is a basic drive, so too is resisting it... and all things considered, that kind of tug of war is exactly what we need.

lulapilgrim

on May 23, 2008

Have the many changes that have happened over the years, been so bad for us? What are the needs of our country as a whole?

Government (Public) education is one of the major needs in our country that must be addressed.

I'd say that most of the changes in public education over the last 40 years have been for the worse and dramatically so.

Some atheists are still agitating for change to the Pledge of Allegiance by eliminating the words "under God".

foreverserenity

on May 25, 2008

So, while the desire for change is a basic drive, so too is resisting it... and all things considered, that kind of tug of war is exactly what we need.

I agree that the tug of war is good for us. We can't always have everything we want, all of the time. And without having to work for it, we won't appreciate what we receive when we get it. In other words, a healthy dose of realism has to be there to keep both sides in check!

Government (Public) education is one of the major needs in our country that must be addressed. I'd say that most of the changes in public education over the last 40 years have been for the worse and dramatically so.

Having work with teachers in the past, having three kids going through public schools, I have to agree that our education system has suffered a lot. There is still so much to be done, one of them is recognizing the teachers who are there doing the work, and letting them do their jobs without fear of reprisal from all ends.

Some atheists are still agitating for change to the Pledge of Allegiance by eliminating the words "under God".

I'm not ignoring this comment, but I don't have a response for this right now because I truthfully don't have all the details on this. I am aware of the trend that have been going on over the years, recently, on eleimating any reference to God or Jesus in some aspects of our society's celebration.

Dr Guy

on May 25, 2008

Excellent Analogy StarStriker1!

lulapilgrim

on May 25, 2008

There is still so much to be done, one of them is recognizing the teachers who are there doing the work, and letting them do their jobs without fear of reprisal from all ends.

I have the greatest respect for good teachers. So, yes, giving them recognition like a pay raise while at the same time getting rid of those bad teachers would be positive change. The problem is with the unions and this age of litigation. bad teachers just get transferred to a different school and the reason (s) why they are bad gets slipped under the rug.

lulapilgrim

on May 25, 2008

quote]Some atheists are still agitating for change to the Pledge of Allegiance by eliminating the words "under God".

I'm not ignoring this comment, but I don't have a response for this right now because I truthfully don't have all the details on this. [/quote]

I am aware of the trend that have been going on over the years, recently, on eleimating any reference to God or Jesus in some aspects of our society's celebration.

Yes, removing the words "under God" from the Pledge is part of this trend. It's groups like the ACLU efforts to stamp out all public expressions of religion from the workplace, public places and academia.

That's why schools offer only thoroughly secularized programs for fear of lawsuits from the ACLU. This change is nothing other than the ACLU's perverting the public understanding of civil liberties and the meaning of the Constitution.

So another change we've made for the worse that I'd add to the list is the relentless assaults on public expressions of traditional religious traditions and values.

I've noticed "change" in the political world. Now that the primaries are coming up in June, we're getting loads of mail from various liberal politicos identifying themselves as social "progressives" . I'm getting ready to call some and ask progressing towards what?

SanChonino

on May 25, 2008

Some atheists are still agitating for change to the Pledge of Allegiance by eliminating the words "under God".

Since it got sandwiched in there, ruining the credenza of the phrase, YEARS after the pledge was originally made. Heaven forbid we go BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY.

lulapilgrim

on May 25, 2008

Heaven forbid we go BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY.

"Heaven forbid"....interesting choice of words, SanChonino.

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