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Richard Botto, Editor in Chief / CEO of RAZOR Magazine, has created the definitive men's magazine which features the best in men's fashion, travel, sports, autos, celebrities, technology, humor, fiction, fitness and more.
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 WRITINGS:
RICHARD BOTTO
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February 2004
Then and Now
"Things aren't
like they used to be; but then again, they never were."
- Stephen Millich (1941- )
Growing up, I remember
listening to people who had come of age during the 1950s spin wistful,
soulful stories of a time and place that seemed otherworldly. Their
tales, to me, always played out in my mind like a silvery black and
white movie. The streets were clean, the neighborhoods welcoming, the
general atmosphere on every corner friendly and non-threatening. It
was a perfect time in America, or so we've been told. Then is always
better than now… or is it?
When the 50s ended, a president was elected by 50.1 percent of the Americans
who voted - hardly a passionate endorsement. Right around the corner
loomed his assassination and suddenly a man regarded with lukewarm admiration
in life was romanticized in death. And that's what we do, we romanticize
the past. We do it with wars and defining moments in history. We do
it with the arts and with automobiles. We do it with just about everything.
The simple explanation for our dalliances with days gone by is that
the past is malleable, while the present is not. We can redefine the
past, mold it to our liking, discard the jagged edges that misshaped
a certain period and reminisce in a safe cocoon of perfect memories.
We allow our remembrances to be refractory to the negatives.
And that's why they call it nostalgia. Nostalgia is a seductress of
the worst kind. One we can't ignore or deny access. She's a self-serving,
manipulative liar who clouds both the present and the past. She convinces
us that the best time is a time long ago. She cures ills that truly
don't exist. She takes the here and now and puts it in casks, not to
be enjoyed until proper aging. An example:
We have made amazing advances in technology, yet it hasn't enhanced
the arts. Let's face it, despite the third installment, you find me
one person (computer geeks need not apply) who wouldn't rather watch
The Godfather trilogy over The Matrix trilogy. When applied to music,
let's just say that technology has made it possible for people with
an intimate knowledge of binary code to be infinitely more valuable
to the industry than anyone approaching Hendrix-like mastery. Technology
has allowed us to go from five channels of programming to over 300 in
less than 20 years, all of which means that there is more crap on television
than ever before.
All of the above is, of course, true, but it doesn't account for the
positives of the current environment. Nostalgia never does.
But here's where nostalgia fails: The past cannot be anticipated, but
the future can and I'd much rather be progressive than reflective.
Maybe Jim Morrison was more insightful than given credit for when he
said, "Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel."
Of course, he didn't heed his own advice, but no one has ever said that
the message is any less profound when the messenger kills himself. Ah,
the good ole days.
Still, after all is said and done, I'd rather take a glance over my
shoulder while changing lanes than a long stare. I'd rather live in
the moment with the knowledge that somewhere down the road, with the
passage of time, the here and now will look better than ever.
Enjoy the issue.
Richard
Botto,
Editor in Chief / CEO of RAZOR Magazine - The Definitive Men's Lifestyle Magazine
www.razormagazine.com
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