The Peace Sign

For all of the change that has taken place in the World, we seem to be in the same place we have always been.  This month I turned 50.  The peace sign turned 50 as well.  I was born seeking peace and with the exception of some of the Clinton years we are still fighting unpopular wars.  Every newly elected president since I was born won on a message of change.  None have delivered in any substantial way, with the limited exception of Lyndon Johnson, who changed the domestic agenda substantially, but took us deeper into war.  Or, maybe they have all brought about change but change does not represent what we expect.  I think ultimately the problem with cheering for change, chanting for change, crowding stadiums for change, is that ultimately you are just buying into a verb.  The problem is that we put our blind faith (and it is no more than that) into someone who has no history that they can deliver.  They have a nice tenor to their voice.  They have a mystique about them.  They look good.  But, it is kind of like cheering my young son to take his first dive off the diving board.  He looks really good until the dismount.  But, the peace sign is now eternal.  I wish I could say the same for me.