Once upon a time (in early June actually) I read a rather special piece written by "863", or Gudmund Hernes [Wp] a former minister currently working at FAFO ("critical and action-oriented research on working life and social policy") and at the time contributing to Morgenbladet (the piece is only available in Norwegian, and for subscribers to the paper)
Two trains of thought related to this - first off the power of the net for finding all kinds of information. The excellent site of SSB (Norwegian bureau of statistics) has the search form, and it tells me that I'm one of 4417 - and the chart indicates that something like 1/3 are younger (sorry, no direct link - staying in online nick mode - have a look at 863 instead) making me perhaps 2996.
Looking back through the ages - it is quite clear that tradition has ruled, with Arne from 1911 to 1935 and Jan from 1940 until 1973 - so even at 4417 I still feel almost unique. Which brings us around to the actual topic of the piece; "why am I on first name terms with you?"
863 lists several possible reasons, from the US ways, passing by teens, celebrities and Alzheimer then coming to the tail and intimacy. Have we lost the necessary authority and respect to actually think in terms of private and public, near and far?
Are we all so close and open with the net and 24 hour news, that erecting barriers and formalities is outmoded? Or is it a way to escape the burdens of moving forward, just tackling the close and imminent agenda - rather than having a vision and a grand goal?
Or is it 863 that is turning into an old man, unable to adapt and therefore setting my ideas off on a path not suitable for progress? Perhaps both - it is the rumblings of the times, but at the same time we all seem lost for traction - the faith of decades past of a golden future coming closer seems to be almost forgotten. As we bicker about who is to blame for raising interest rates and lack of interest in science in the next generation, the future is moving away, leaving us behind in a polluted, segregated and divided world. Democracy doesn't mean happiness, nor does capitalism mean riches for all.
...time to snap out of it? Or to do something about it?
...and the sun is heating up even more, making the cold morning and nights of fall seem far far away, almost surreal...
//listening to Live - The Distance to here
