Change and how it works

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How does change happen?  Some people would answer that it's sudden, and violent.  Others would say that it's a gradual process, but peaceful.  Then of course you would get the occasional shrug, and "dunno"  that seems all too common sometimes.  Now I'm sure you're wondering which is the right answer, or at least which is the right answer according to me.  Well like any other self respecting writer, I'm not going to tell you, not yet.  No instead I'm going to talk to you about trade offs.

    You see we all want to know what the right answer is, but more often than not there isn't one.  Instead there are just two (or more) options that are opposites.  In woodworking there's a saying "Measure twice, cut once."  Which I always felt translated to "You can do it fast, or you can do it right."  Another example of this is when the United States was first struggling with the idea of electricity.  We had two options: AC, and DC.  DC was relatively safe, but would require power plants on almost every block of New York City just to power the city.  AC on the other hand, could travel miles down a power line without needing a boost, but touch it, and you're probably dead.  Ultimately we chose AC power.

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    Wait, you say, what does all that have to do with change?  Well imaginary reader I just invented, for one wouldn't you say that adding electricity was a rather large change at the time.  And for two it's called foreshadowing you uncultured bafoon.  Wait, where are you going?  No, I didn't mean it, come back.  Okay that's better, but still.  Read, then ask questions like that.

    But if you insist on me talking about change.  The first way to make large changes is through force.  That said certain criteria must be met to use this method.  For one you must either be a large majority in the region you're trying to change, or you must be exceptionally smart.  Before you say it, if you think you're that smart, you most certainly aren't.  That option is so rare it's not even funny.  Seriously, I'm trying to laugh at it and I can't.  Further you have to be ruthless.  When I say ruthless, understand I do mean ruthless, like raze it all to the ground kind of ruthless.  Like the Soviets burning their own land in World War Two, ruthless.  If you're not ruthless enough you will do nothing but create enemies.  However should you manage to pound the opposition into the dirt hard enough, congratulations you made the change you wanted.  Just ignore the pile of bodies you just created.  Man they're really starting to stink though.  What?  You recognize some of them?  Well, duh.  Some of your people will die too if you use the force method.  So in other words make sure the change you want is worth it.

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    The other method is the polar opposite of the first.  Where the first is fast, this is slow.  Where the first is satisfying on a primal level, this one is intensely frustrating.  We can call this one the peace method.  This one requires those that want change to be beyond reproach, all...the...time.  Perhaps more frustrating still, it requires the idea to be objectively right.  What do I mean by beyond reproach?  I mean that when protesting, and getting sworn at by whatever the opposition may be, all members must remain calm, and polite.  When asked to leave, they must leave, but return the next day.  None can spout hate, or anger.  Who the hell has done this you ask? Well, there's Dr. Martin Luther King jr. Ghandi, and Women's suffrage to name a few.  They weren't perfect, but they were close for this method.  All three of those movements advocated for themselves without allowing aggressive or hateful rhetoric.  They stood above the violent tactics in favor of stating their message so all could hear.  All three said "this isn't fair."  And all three were objectively right.  They didn't even result to the name calling (at least not as a movement) that we all seem to do.  Because they did that, they had people criticize them, call they're ideas stupid, violently oppose them, but ultimately they were accepted.  In other words, no getting mad and yelling names, or chanting phrases (I'm looking at you Social Justice Warriors, and angry Trump supporters) let it all roll off you like water on a duck's back.  Be your idea correct, change will, happen.

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