New is Not always Improved -So Think First

Novel ideas and fads often attract a following for no other reason than being on the "cutting edge" [Sometimes bleeding edge!]

In debating a hot topic related to political correctness - I sent the following missive in response to the simple observation: "Not sure what your point is"

My Point? To get people to reflect - introspect.

To think "critically" in the sense of NOT drinking the Kool-aid

Rav Gorelick implored us: "Ich vill nisht kein frum torah"

So if academic X says Model A supersedes Model T - who says that this is fact? Maybe it is opinion!

Why just the other day - the newspapers showed a picture of Ford's Model T tooling around NYC and getting better gas mileage and polluting less than most contemporary cars! So who says A is actually better than T?

Ford insisted the model T was ideal and by sticking to black paint he saved the consumer a bundle of money. But consumers favored GM's colorful cars and efficiency gave way to faddy aesthetics and prices got jacked up just for "style" points!

Volkswagen made the same point in the 1960's - why pay for re-engineering every year? It's a waste!

So when people see change as superior - I question this "mass hysteria" for the idolatry of "new and improved"

True Story

I served on a co-op board for many years
NYC said: "incinerators pollute the air" so use compactors instead.

And so we did. Within months the cockroach infestation was unbearable! Thank G-d for the city because with cleaner air - a boon was created for exterminators. They then began spraying powerful chemical insecticides to quash the roach population boon! Do you really think those chemicals make for a "healthier atmosphere" then the smoke and soot from incinerators? I dunno but I DO know it cost us a bundle and the quality of life was reduced - forcing us to share our quarters with uninvited "guests".

Now I'm no Luddite, but sometimes one really must question "progress". With academics we get nonsense like the Civil War was not about slavery. What academics often (but not always) thrive on is revisionism - not necessarily better models but putting a valuable kankan around some grape juice and selling it as fine wine!

Now thinking people who are introspective will not swallow that Grape Flavoured Kool-aid.

So my job is to question the popular "Avodah Zara" that new = better.

The emes is that better = better. New may or may not be better.

Shana Tova
RRW