I remember as a child often hearing older people lament the perils of progress.
“I wish everything would just stay the same,” they’d remark to just about anyone who would listen.
I didn’t fully grasp what they meant at the time, but as I grew older it began to register.
Progress was when my Nana’s beloved home was razed and bulldozed down to the ground because old Route 66 (and buildings within the immediate vicinity) just couldn’t compete with the new interstate. In the hierarchy of trade and commerce it just made sense. Increased traffic necessitated bigger and better roads at whatever cost was necessary, and interstate highways were the economic boons that revolutionized this country.
Progress was when television programing during the evening family hour was deemed obsolete and replaced with shows/commercials that better reflected our changing culture and our diversity as a nation. (You know the ones. Think reality T.V. gone wild with stars so extreme they’ve given new meaning to the word “blush.” Well, that word is probably obsolete as well…)
And progress was when our children’s classics were considered outdated, overused, and unoriginal because a new crop of “classics” were emerging. These newer stories were the dark tales that were penned with adults in mind but still marketed toward young, impressionable readers of future generations. (Since I write, believe me, I have a deep appreciation for artistic creativity, but where do we draw the line between light fables and the darker elements that seem to be required reading in many public school systems today?)
Progress reflects change which may or may not necessarily be a bad thing. Certainly, advancements in medicine, technology, and industry have improved our way of life. I wonder though…if, as a society, we have a moral obligation to contemplate change and its impact before embracing and endorsing it. Should personal principles affect our vision as we board the train of progress, or should we hop on board and hope for the best, lest we be labeled a nonconformist?
As a Christian, “progress” can sometimes be a little difficult for me to swallow.
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What are some positive/negative examples of “progress” that come to mind?
If you write, do you feel that your work is influenced by these things?
Comments 4
I have a feeling my thoughts are much the same as yours on this. You wonder about our moral obligation, I don’t think those of us with morals get to vote on some of those things, but rather have them thrust upon us.
Author
Yes, Patti, I believe it’s a story that’s still being written. (The great thing: for Christians, we know the conclusion.)
The TV example is a great one, Cynthia. I recently took a small hiatus from TV, and I couldn’t believe how sensitized I was when I turned it back on. I was amazed at what I had watched before that never fazed me. It’s such a slippery path, isn’t it?
Author
Sarah, I contemplate this every time we turn the television on at our house. I’m not a prude, but I do believe we’ve become conditioned to accept certain things as “okay” because they’re so widely the norm now.