The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott-Herron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", wrtitten in 1970, is often referred to as the first rap song, and has since become an anthem for movements around the world. The artist's original intent was, of course,  to reject mass media's portrayal -- or lack thereof -- of black America.

In one sense, the key word in the song's title is "Not".  Revolutions are usually brought about by coalitions of groups that agree on what they don't want. Deciding what they do want is another matter entirely, and usually takes decades to settle.  A new article by David Mack in Foreign Policy makes the point as it relates to the current turmoil in the Middle East.

The usual measured tones on boardroom discourse sometimes give way to more heated debate and even the occasional coup.  The Apple board's rejection of  Steve Jobs in the mid 80s is one example.

In the end, revolutions are a precarious exercise and can degenerate into a civil war to decide issues that have been simmering for a long time.

In the wake of the "revolution" in physics touched off by Albert Einstein's work, mathematician and philospher Alfred North Whitehead wrote:  "The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order."

Amen to that.