But Will Change Come?

I'm at a loss.

I just finished "Everything Must Change", and I am a bit surprised at my emotional reaction. This affected me in my gut.

I live here in one of the poorest counties in one of the poorest states in the union. I see a hoplessness that has become so ingrained that the idea that things could get significantly better seems like a joke. As I go into schools I see young adolescents who have traded in any thoughts of the future for micro-materialism. For the moments, their i-pods, their games, their cell phones bring them a sense of satisfaction that often seems to accompany the idea that there is nothing more. There's no future, no pride except in their lower-than-thou status. There seems to be something inside that is bothered by the way others feel, but it's quickly covered over and replaced by a smirk.

Will change come? I wish I could be as confident as McLaren that it will, but I don't know. I've lived in this community too long, I guess. I've seen too much false hope. I don't know what the answer is.

But something in this book touches whatever buried hope I still have for this community. Maybe it's the realization that there are those out there who seem to get it. I don't know.