The times they are a-changin’

The Bob Dylan song “The Times They Are a-Changin’” is one that seems very appropriate over the last few months.

Dylan’s song was released in 1964, another time of changes, social unrest, racial tension, protests, and an ongoing war. There was even an influenza pandemic, but that came near the end of the decade in 1968.

For many people today, like then, life seems to be a roller coaster. Just when things seem to be settling down, here comes another crest to ride through.

The lyrics of Dylan’s song carry weight today as it asks people to work with those changes and not get in the way. Although from the opposite side it depends on what those changes are. If they are well thought out and not spur of the moment, if they are something that will help build things up instead of tearing them down, if they are changes that will improve things, then let’s follow through with them. And before anyone makes any assumptions, people from all walks of life put forth their ideas of changes that can be considered good or bad.

The thing is we need to put our preconceived notions, our generalizations of groups, our ideologies aside and actually discuss what changes need to be made. What changes will help our society as a whole, what will improve things for the majority of people so they can have a better life.

It’s often been said that the only constant in life is change. We are seeing a time when we are going to have to make changes. These can’t be shortcuts, they can’t be band-aids. We have to start looking at making long term changes, although the question is, are we up to it? Can we change our mindset for short term answers to one where we actually make long term solutions?