Talking about change

Change is good. I heard somewhere that change is the only constant in life. As though nothing is absolute. Somewhere along my semester I thought about "change" and its implications. So I am gonna share a bit about what I think of it.

Came across it this semester in two classes. One in Alternative Lives in Japan and the other in Intro to Political Science. I learn in the former that culture is always changing. I always thought it was static. For example, what is so Japanese about Japan? Is it Ikebana, Sushi, Samurai, Geishas, etc? Or what? If 100 years from now, lets say Japan fails to keep these things preserved as I mentioned, will Japan still be Japanese? I'm trying to say that culture is man-made. Its something we keep and maintain to define ourselves from others. And more importantly, it is not absolute. Culture can kill. The suicide rates in Japan tells you something about it. It can harm or benefit society.

My application point: Culture can be cajoled for the good of society since its dynamic & not static.

In the latter class, I asked what's gonna happen if China literally turn democratic overnight? We all read in the media that China is known for its human rights record, etc. Initially, I thought that I should join in the chorus demanding that China respect Human Rights by going democratic until I read Kishore Mabulani's argument. He said that China's soft authoritarianism is slowly but surely increasing the welfare of society. Furthermore, nobody seems to be reporting that China has been working with NGOs to increase the welfare of its people. What's going to happen if China jumps into democracy? His conclusion...chaos.

My take home is, by all means change for the better but at a rate that is sustainable.

I believe that change is necessary and that church can change too. Thats why I left. I know you are thinking that I should be the change in the church. But I question that, think deeper. Its not so straightforward. How do you change something which operates on a philosophy different from your conviction? Most of the time I change but you don't. If you make me your SP (try guess what it means), maybe & perhaps I can be the change. I will always change and of course...you did better change too.