On the Passing of Time

  A friend, whose leisure time conversation revolves around percolated political rhetoric, expressed disenchantment with his perceived abasement of Thomas Edison brought about by the recent attrition of incandescent light bulbs. His comment, "Now they're trying to change history," reflected yet another parcel in his piecemeal world view of government surreptitiously eroding the quality of life in the United States.

  I couldn't think of anything to say at the time; but now I ponder on the futility of trying to explain to him that although factual events cannot be changed, perception of those events are determined by the values attached to them, that subsequent events can alter their significance, and that over time may overshadow them into obscurity, even obsolescence. However, I must concede he is due a respectful degree of sympathy toward the passing.