Accepting Change Is to Americas Benefit - Essay Example

Accepting Change is to America’s Benefit Among the many contradictions that exist in society, the struggle between the old and new is one that is most transcending. While it may easily reach the level of a political debate, the disagreement between those who banner changes in the different social spheres and those who wish to defend the status quo can actually arise even in the most basic social unit, the family. In fact, ambiguous attitudes towards change may even emerge in an individual. These would naturally bring about the oftentimes inconsistent views regarding changes, especially those that affect tradition and culture. At one time, one can embrace the novel while at another, staunchly defending what he perceives as really American. This is phenomenon is just a reflection of the opposite poles that exist among Americans regarding change. It is necessary to understand the dilemma that the American people face when confronted with changes that affect the very foundations of culture and tradition. It is through such understanding that determining the correct attitude can be realized. Dinosaur Dreams: Reading the Bones of America’s Psychic Mascot written by Jack Hitt provides valuable insights regarding the matter. It is a discussion on the general attitude of Americans towards the dinosaurs as symbols. Fenton Johnson’s Wedded to an Illusion, on the other hand, focuses on the issue of same gender marriages but it presents an argument on why Americans should accept change because of its benefits for their society. In summing up the points of Hitt and Johnson, it is easy to conclude that that since change is inevitable, Americans have no other recourse but to accept it in order to make the best out of the new opportunities it offers. A brief review of the history of the United States, particularly its culture, it is discernable that the people’s view of themselves and their country is constantly changing. This means that certain norms and beliefs once though to be permanently valid and right have been set aside as no longer attuned to the times or thrown into the dustbin of the past being found absolutely wrong. Under such premise, it is clear that the shifts, even if these at times cause upheavals, must be considered as beneficial. The struggle between the old and new is not just carried out by debates; it is possible for force to be applied in order to achieve a resolution. The point, however, is to determine the results of the events, whether or not it brought about positive things for society. This is a very pragmatic point of view on changes, one that is not based on subjective will but on objective conditions. If conditions change, there is actually no other recourse but to accept reality and to adapt or improvise. No matter how people wish things to be permanent, changes still occur. Even marriage is obviously not a permanent despite promises of union being made until death. In fact, it “has always been an evolving institution, bent and shaped by the historical moment and the needs and demands of its participants.” (Johnson) Centuries ago, nobody would have thought about divorce, especially because religion then played a very important part in establishing marital union. However, this has changed through following centuries. If such change is accepted by people, then there is no reason why they cannot do the same with changes in society, which is another institution. Actually, the shifts are taking place although these may be gradual and America’s only choice is to accept these. Hitt explains that the American psyche is actually accepting the changes. This is the view that he presents in his article which describes the significance of the American view of the dinosaur. The existence of dinosaurs is proven by the past, something that can no longer be changed. However, “their periodic rebirth in pop culture neatly signals deep tectonic shifts in our sense of our self as a country.” (Hitt) The American people’s view on the relevance of the dinosaur is a reflection of their mindset as a nation. Through the years, such point of view has changed many times depending on what is considered to be appropriate to current exigencies. In essence, even Americans do not stick to a particular idea or concept. Instead, they easily adapt to the circumstances by letting go of outmoded ideas and establishing or accepting new ones. Because such ideas are definitely triggered by current needs, these are acceptable and are not essentially harmful. What could be dangerous though is when people hold on to outmoded concepts that could be counter-productive under new circumstances. Cultural change is definitely a healthy process for a nation. It does not make a country less distinct. Instead, it enriches its culture, triggering a chain of development that could have lasting effects on its politics, economy, and foreign relations. Besides, changes in culture are as inevitable as the evolutionary processes taking place in everything under the sun. Nothing is permanent and things change, a reality that should not be considered as bad. Hitt points out that the dinosaurs once ruled the planet but they became extinct. Their extinction though laid the basis of new life forms. The human species “will become extinct, and when that happens, that’s probably not a bad thing.” (Hitt) Evolution in society is also a natural and inevitable process. The most positive attitude would be to accept this in order to have the motivation to adapt or improvise. There are still concepts though that promote the line that social norms are necessary and that these should be permanent. While social norms may be important, these are actually just temporary. Even if an institution upholds social norms, it “does not render it immune to change – slavery was once socially accepted, just as mixed-race marriages were widely forbidden and divorce an irreparable stigma.” (Johnson) Social norms are only good while the conditions that brought these forth are still around. Once such conditions are gone, these norms become irrelevant. These should be discarded so that new ones could be established. Such a process is indeed healthy for a nation while clinging on to outmoded norms is as unhealthy as stale food is to the human body. It is disadvantageous for America to maintain traditions and cultures even if these are no longer practical and reasonable in relation new realities. The only reason why people would hold on to a tradition that is no longer relevant to the times is sentimentalism. Sentimentalism definitely stunts development, one that binds people to the past and blinds them about the present and future. In fact, the new may bring about solutions to certain social problems. For example, same-gender marriage can be considered as “a means toward encouraging same-gender couples to model themselves on heterosexual marriage.” (Johnson) If the problem with same-gender relationships is promiscuity, then legalizing its marriage may just be the solution. As new cultural forms and substances are embraced, America also continues to find its identity. According to Hitt, “with only a fourth of dinosaur fossils estimated to have been found, the empire has ways to go.” This means that searching for more symbols and signs that could present the nation’s identity continue and this is actually good for the people. Holding on to old customs and traditions are just detrimental. In whatever sphere in society, changes occur. Since culture is just a reflection of the material changes taking place in the economy, in politics, in the racial composition of society, and several other factors, its evolution is also inevitable. Creating new features in culture that would be in accordance to new conditions is definitely not detrimental or damaging to society. Instead, it is the appropriate thing to do for Americans. This has been pointed out by Jack Hitt in his essay Dinosaur Dreams and Fenton Johnson in his Wedded to an Illusion. It is only by the people’s willingness to accept the new things can they be prepared for the opportunities that such changes may bring. This is the same attitude that should be possessed when confronting issues that affect long-held traditions and beliefs. This is the key towards continuous social development. Works Cited Hitt, Jack. “Dinosaur Dreams: Reading the Bones of America’s Psychic Mascot.” Harper’s Magazine, 1 October, 2001. Johnson, Fenton. “Wedded to an Illusion.” Harper’s Magazine, 25 November, 2004. Read More