I didn’t think these articles would move me, but they did. The writers were so sincere in their conversations that it feels natural to read their work all the way through with intrigue for their next points. Starting with Whitehead, it doesn’t matter that he wrote his article 19+ years ago, I can relate to it today. In aspects even greater than your hometown or city, people come and go, and many other things change. However, that’s okay. Accepting that there will be change and accepting that those once treasured- or not treasured enough- things can disappear in an instant, is relieving a burden off your future self. Why? The person we were yesterday knew less than the one we are today. So it isn’t wise to torment ourselves about the past, the what could’ve been or the what should’ve been. The tragic crisis, the Twin Towers’ 9/11, came unexpectedly and brought grief and sudden change. Whitehead’s attitude and proposal to the community is that it is okay to accept that there will be a new skyline. He says, “[…] let’s be patient and not judge too quickly. We were new here, too, once.” There is more meaning to this: the city we once knew, the life we once lived, was new when we arrived, too. There were many neighborhoods before the one we came to know and live in. There will be many more, and it is okay to embrace change, it is healing.

Lewis wrote about a different kind of change. Social changes, justice and injustice. It is not a recent discovery that racism and discrimination exist. Lewis fought injustice all his life, coming to a realization at the age of 15 that the world was oppressive. However, he urges his community to take action and fight for change. He stated how proud he was of the achievements he’d seen, and he hopes the rising generation will be known for destroying hate with peace.

Both messages speak of change and healing. Whitehead’s writing feels more indirect, making the reader arrive at the conclusions of his statements as they read his piece. Lewis was very direct, telling his readers what his last hopes and wishes were: “Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.”

I think that both writers come from a very valid place. Whitehead had his own NYC and his own stories of change. He wasn’t forcing his point of view on the reader, but very tactfully persuading the reader with his imagery and anecdotal style of writing, as if inviting the reader to experience his story together. Lewis also grew up understanding and living the injustices he fought for. He wrote, “In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.” That is why he was in the right position to ask the next generation to do the same. Personally, both pieces resonate with me because I feel where they’re coming from, and they move me to analyze my inner-self. What am I doing today to contribute to a better future? Will I remain stuck in the past way of life, or move on and embrace changes? The whole world has been affected by covid-19 in one way or another. How will we move forward? I think it’s important to not let reminiscing on the past keep you from growing your future self. Also, everyone may not have the same beliefs, but there is something we can all think of to contribute to a better future. That is something the reader can meditate on.