The theory of demolition

One of the many events that interest me aside from Independence Day (I celebrate my own liberation on my birthday) is Demolition Day. Watching homes or buildings that I used to live or work in bulldozed into crumbs always bring me buckets of tears and loads of remorse and gravel for my aquarium. It even urges me to throw a farewell party for the departure of another feeble neighborhood. I usually swear silently at the mastermind after watching how giant machines pound and smash and grind a piece of my past. It's just too sadistic. No, it's just too much for me to digest, sniff, sniff.Here in Kuwait, there is one phase of demolition that really knocks my ailing wits out. One day, I am waving warm greetings in muted language at the neighbor's next apartment. The next day, they are coldly waving back at me; sort of mimicking the look on the demolition team's faces while doing their job mercilessly. On the third day, just about the time I'm ready to invite my neighbors for dinner, I'm waving at air currents. This is the stage where people next door underwent the process of 'evaporation'.In a blink, they pop off like bubbles. The home that used to block my view of the sun vanishes in a jiffy. And it kind of makes me wonder how much time, love and money they spent to beautify their places only to remain fragments of their memory. Similarly, it kind of puzzles me how much time is allotted for them to evacuate and relocate even before their houses are completely pulverized.On the other hand, antique structures also line up for another demolition phase called 'premeditation'. This is the process that seems to take centuries of hibernating before taking effect. In fact, passing by these old buildings scares the hell out of me as falling chunks of bricks are threatening to smash me like an insect. Notice how the stage acts in dual function - the other one being called the process of 'personalization'.Let me expound on this. While the demolition team takes its time deliberating and pondering on the methods of wiping out the place, bit by bit the structure voluntarily does the job on its own initiative. First, it will give away its cement paint for passersby to avail of free hair dye. Then it would toss down its windows to chop a parked car into two brand new halves. Finally, its walls will lose stamina and collapse on innocent people. The team comes shortly after to clean up the grave, errr, mess. The old building is now ready for the funeral makeover.In special instances, there are buildings that go through the 'transition' stage. Contractors label it generically as 'renovation'. Quite obviously experienced by small shops with small businesses. It targets small-time entrepreneurs to make way for big-time entrepreneurs to occupy the area. The demolition serves the purposes of those who aspire of milling on bigger than smaller profit. In effect, small shop owners are left to searching for less discriminatory spaces (say, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh?) and squat with their goods in lieu of bigger and taller and grander and wealthier structures.Personally, I'm in no way impressed with overly to vainly towering skyscrapers. They make me feel smaller than a microscopic organism subject for intimidation. Moreover, there is a period when demolitions experience massive constraints. They are in series called 'contradictions'. With the roach settlement as an exception, there are major structures in the community that are being fought back to preserve their purposes.Government structures, cultural structures, organizational structures, class or identity structures, physical structures, etc. Demolitions of this sort of structures often involve less action and much chitchat. In worst cases, they involve more violence. The machineries come in genuinely destructive forms, from shrapnel to nuclear plantations. And usually, the series of contradictions are either suppressed or eradicated.But enough of these cruel theories! As a whole, demolitions have an optimistic overtone as in every theory, there is an assumption. Let's say the theories of preservation and re-creation. At least, thinking about destruction of things won't be that burdensome for some of us who wanted to celebrate our properties forever when they are replaced with something more useful! So cheer up and happy demolition day!