IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1545404
76 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2026 I n 1849, French writer, journalist, and sati- rist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote the famous line, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," which translates as "The more things change, the more they stay the same." He penned it in his satirical journal, Les Guêpes (The Wasps), during a period of great upheaval in France. The February Revolution in 1848 had just shaken the country, the July Monarchy had fallen, and the French Second Republic had emerged. To many, it seemed as if everything was changing. But Karr's insight suggested that while leaders, systems, slogans, and structures may shift, beneath the surface, the same patterns of ambition, conflict, and repeated mistakes often remain. His words remind us to look past appearances and ask: Has some- thing truly changed, or has it simply been given a new name, tool, or look? That very question returned to me in an unex- pected place: a small gift shop in Yosemite Valley, California, a few weeks back. Among the racks of nostalgic books by Sterling Publishing was a series called "The Year You Were Born." I rotated the rack, flipping through the years, until the BY J O H N WATS O N , PA LO M A R C O L L EG E E L E M E N TA RY, M R . WATS O N BUILDERS OF THE DREAM