Ruling over a world long dominated by titans, Cronus established himself as the guardian of this order. Any force capable of disrupting it was immediately neutralized and, literally, devoured. Thus, he became a predator to his own children, one of whom carried the seed of change. His offspring were swallowed to eliminate any potential threat to the status quo. This myth illustrates the violence that an aversion to change can exert, much like what happens in our country when something new tries to take hold. This type of apprehension, characteristic of our society, has a name: misoneism.
Misoneism is one of the traits of a great Malagasy paradox: if we believe the various wishes expressed on social media and other platforms, we aspire to change. But when the object of our prayers manifests, those who asked for it offer fierce resistance. Thus, an ambivalence emerges where attachment to the habitual coexists with a desire for change. Our history has been driven by this willingness to welcome the new, a trend that must be harnessed by those eyeing power. Yet, they often see their vision countered by misoneism.
While the air of our national life is polluted by various molds, wanting to get rid of them is normal. But how many sanitation attempts were killed in the bud as soon as they collided with our misoneistic side? Solutions were proposed to solve major hygiene problems, flaws in the education system, the grievances of public transport users, and failing infrastructure… But misoneism, with its ever-hostile voice, makes itself heard vehemently and, in the vast majority of cases, ends up triumphing. While the desire to move forward is present in our minds, the desire to stagnate seems more powerful.
In Waiting for Godot (S. Beckett, 1952), Vladimir and Estragon wait for a transformation of their situation while remaining in the same place. Like them, we want change while pushing away any wind that might uproot us from our habits. Like Janus, the Roman deity with two faces, we are simultaneously focused on the future and anchored to yesterday. And like Sisyphus, we want to push the rock, heavy with the weight of our burdens, to a summit where a better life might await. But just as the ascent begins, misoneism is always there to assert itself and make the rock roll back down.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-21 05:39:05 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/changement-devore.html