Conversation Continued From ‘Arcadia Yesteryear and Today’ (12/9/15 Issue)

Dear Editor,

Like the famous Bob Dylan song says, “The Times They Are A-changing,” and just like our city of Arcadia, we must keep changing along with the times.

There has been much debate over Arcadia’s new identity or, more specifically, the difference between “Old Arcadia vs. New Arcadia.” This topic was discussed in detail in the article aptly titled, “Arcadia Yesteryear and Today” written by the former mayor Jim Helms and published in the Dec. 9 issue of Arcadia Weekly. In this article, Helms discussed certain changes that have occurred over the last 60 years in Arcadia. He not only explained these changes but also shared his support for these changes, as he believes they are positive developments for Arcadia. I agree with Helms’ idea that people cannot live in the past forever. Time is always moving; everything around us is changing. The house gets torn down and rebuilt, people move in and out. Accepting new things can be hard for Old Arcadians, but they cannot stop time and stay in the same spot forever. Therefore, why not try to accept these new changes as they come? Just like Helms says, there will not be much of Old Arcadia left, so instead of arguing over the old and new lifestyles, we should focus on how to make Arcadia a better environment to live in, welcome all the people who are coming to Arcadia, and look for the benefits of living in Arcadia.

If people want Arcadia to feel like a real community then we should stop dividing this city into two opposing sides: Old Arcadia vs. New Arcadia. Instead, we should just come together as Arcadians and try to co-exist amicably. In order for there to be a real sense of community, there must be a common ground tying us together and that unifying factor is the city itself. We must work together and make this city a peaceful, friendly, and welcoming place to live in. We must overcome our differences and learn to accept and embrace our lifestyles and concentrate on making Arcadia a great city to live in.

-Alice Zhou, Arcadia High School

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