Think of SI as a park.
The Original SI Park:
We were here when the trees, flowers, and grass were first planted. We watched them grow. Every time we visited the park we met our friends, we talked business, current issues, and some just came to blow off steam. The wooden park benches, washrooms and the gravel parking lot, served their function well. Some of us came every day, while others visited once and a while. It became a part of our lives, and to some, this park was almost like a second home.
Well, the park now has a new owner, and this owner wants to make this park bigger and better for us.
The New SI Park:.
They bulldozed the trees, flowers and grass. Replaced the trees with large concrete and steel sculptures, concrete benches and fountains. The new grass is like that of a golf course. The washrooms are now like the ones you would find in a 4 star hotel, we now have a 10 story concrete parking centre for our cars.
The new management says, it's not the park, it's the people and conversation that matters, that's why you came to the park, to meet each other, talk business and have fun.
But they don't understand, it's not just the conversation, the spirit of the original park is gone. The new park just doesn't have the same spirit as the old park, nothing looks the same. They did so many changes, some people can't find their cars after they parked them.
Sure the washrooms could have been upgraded, and the parking lot could have been paved. But, those improvements would not have taken away from the spirit of our park. Our park is dead, it's not the same anymore. I see the same people, but I feel so out of place.
If you are new to this park, you wouldn't understand. |
