change has for a long while been an interesting subject to me. for that matter, i had put a lot of effort in that during past few years. most of what i have done for work, had been implementing new procedures, which is change.
i have recently got to read a bit more about alvin toffler and he has a great say. he says: "the illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
what a definition. it made me to review those few years and it by far a better insight on why we iranians, who have been one of the pioneers of the new world and founder of presian empire, the first ones who had established human rights, are now in such state and position? one might argue that we had hanged a lot. from a monarchy to islamic republic. true probably that was the only change that people took part in it, but yet again, they stopped there and considered the job done, where in fact it was the beginning. what it has all to do with toffler's definition of illiteracy? well to me and the way is analyse it is that it is inability to change and let say-unlearn and re-learn that had put us in this situation. the fact that we want the world to revolve around what most of us (not all of course) as individuals know than what the world really is. we have the illusion that we are most clever, the most civilised, the most religious, the most everything and therefore we don't need to change. the ability to un-learn and re-learn is the ability to change and modify, to adjust with the newfound facts and better ways.
that's where we are falling apart. a glimpse at how our society behaves speaks for itself. the way we talk, the way most of us eat, the way we drive (how much respect for others and their peace of mind we have?), how well we work, how often we lie and talk behind others back, how often we cheat (and yet we claim god's watching over us and we are the pioneers of islam!)? how well the status of our schools and universities? how well organised our political parties and their rallies are?