Thursday 10th January

The words are by that most apposite of lyricists Paul Simon, who has so often hit just the right spot; his words perfectly matching the beautiful melodies he creates.  But what does it mean?  In the context of the song it was a metaphor about personal relationships, how no matter how hard we try, nothing lasts forever.  But in a wider context it is about the atrophy of everything.  Except perhaps for diamonds almost everything else atrophies; and at a rate too.

And we all start out with such confidence; that first blinding love is so strong it will surely outlast time itself; your first flat is decorated with care only to be sold as soon as the market allows you to move on up; that shiny new car is polished to perfection every week until one day you notice how shoddy it is looking and grudgingly take it to the carwash.  But sooner or later everything put together falls apart, and lovers depart and houses are just a headache and a money-sponge, cars rust in the driveway and that smart coat hangs like a rag behind the front door.

And so also our confidence and our optimism lose their shine, our grand plans are gradually redesigned as we learn to accept less and complain more.  Where are the great Socialist ideas of our youth?  Put an end to War?  We cannot even disentangle ourselves decently from Afghanistan.  Make Poverty History? We cannot even make it a recent misdemeanor but are busy cementing it into place as the bedrock of our society.  Fair Taxes for All?  When the rich have just had a tax-cut paid for by lower than inflation increases for the poor.

Or is this just the perspective from those who have reached a certain age when indeed everything put together is already falling apart.  Let us hope so.  Let us hope that the young still believe that things can get better, and will indeed do something about it.  Maybe all that self-absorption we complain about, their obsession with the internet and celebrity and technology will indeed make the world a better place before their ideals sooner or later fall apart too.