Joliet Central High School
Joliet, Illinois
Teacher: Michael Reilly
The Power Of One
By Casey E. McGrath
Grade 12
“We were put on this world to be not just humans being, but humans becoming.” There is a difference between life and existence. A human being is a self motivated member of society whereas a human becoming is so much more. Perhaps when we take a second for self examination, the room for self improvement ties in with our personal moral responsibility to our world and society; a place where each of us as citizens and as people can turn our ideas of the importance of human doings into the far greater significance of the humans doing them.
Many of us doubt the power of one, but as individuals we are underrated. We forget that sometimes it just takes a single act to empower others, and enforce your cause. As citizens, we need to step out on our beliefs, whether controversial or unpopular, and have the strength to fight against the envisioned greater power. Take Susan B. Anthony, for example; her ideas were ludicrous to the majority, but she remembered that the most important majority was the “majority of one.” She stood up for what she believed in, and by doing so she inspired women all over to support her and her cause. As a result, that seemingly unswayable majority finally fell under the power of Anthony’s actions, and resulted in the universal idea of women's’ rights across our nation. Susan B. Anthony shaped the idea of a human being, but it was in strengthening others and improving society did she, as well as many individuals, take the extra step to define a human becoming.
What, then, are at the roots of a human becoming? What can we strive for as individuals? As Thoreau once said, “Every great foundation is the lengthened shadow of one man.” We must work from the ground up, and in doing so, it is obvious that there is no where to start but with ourselves. Self improvement is a concept that has been twisted thousands of ways, but as important as it is to enlighten ourselves as individuals, perhaps we should begin looking at society as the self, and us, as citizens, as the improvers. The problems that appear unchangeable, such as abortion, drug abuse, child abuse, welfare, poverty, gangs, and pollution, could possibly be lessened if we stopped looking for a cure and started looking for a medicine. Community service is often looked at as a chore, but in finding the activity that coincides personal enjoyment and fulfilling our duty in society, service can become both an important and cherished part of our lives. Activities such as food drives, Christmas gift drives, nursing home visitations, and volunteering at homeless shelters can very well cause a domino effect of events that can lead to that “cure” we tend to refer to as unattainable. Perhaps it is then we remember that you don’t jump to the top of a ladder; you climb there.
Sadly, not all of us deem worldly improvement as a high priority. As a result, some issues become unavoidable. But in acceptance of that concept we can then take the next step in making our expectations for the future realistic and attainable. Crime is a detriment to every civilization, but through being more conscientious and avoiding it as individuals, we become one of the larger statistics that say the crime rate in our society is improving. Government officials need to place a stronger emphasis on the prevention of crime (anyone can use words, threats, laws, or ordinances) but it is through enforcement do these ideas take on importance. We can threaten capital punishment, and we can pass laws to regulate teen drinking. But how many times do the people that deserve the consequences of disobeying these principles receive warnings or nothing at all? It’s not about if the situation wasn’t dangerous, it is its potential of being dangerous. It’s not as if the person wasn’t thinking clearly on one occasion, but its potential of happening again. All of this can tie back to a universal concept, “Actions speak louder than words.” Take our ideas, if good, and act on them. Ask ourselves, “Are we willing to take that chance?” In thinking of the potential of innocent people being pulled into the cruel actions of another, the answer is most certainly, no.
Humans being, or humans becoming? Are we giving back to society what we take, or are we living solely for ourselves? To leave you with anything, it is remembering the power of one. And as individuals, to transcend, to rise above, and to be able to look at ourselves and know we gave back. To know that we helped define the difference between life and existence... and to know if once we were human beings, we are now humans that became.
Questions
1. In the US, marriage is “invested” in by the increased number of cohabitational couples, those who look for commitment but not the sanctioning by government; in Manus, economical advantages play a major role in the marriage decision. A divorce is looked at as “bad credit,” whereas in the US it is growing increasingly common.
2.
a) 9 years (male: 2, female: 1)
•realize and respect the personal weaknesses of the other person, as well as your own.
b) 3 years (both: 1)
•think in terms of “we” when it comes to making major decisions; if it effects your partner, it is imperative that they be included.
c) 4 years (both: 1)
•make your relationship original; don’t do things simply out of tradition. Decide what it best for your lifestyles,career goals, and expectations.
d) 35 years (both: 1)
•Communication is vital. Talk about everything, respect each other’s privacy, but be open to share matters concerning the other or just yourself.
e) 10 years (male: 1, female: 2)
•Never let your relationship suffer due to money problems.Work together to improve the situation.
f) 2 years (both: 2)
•Having children must be a mutual decision.
g) 9 years (both: 1)
•Realize the humanism to your partner.
h) 14 years (male: 2, female: 1)
•Use “I” statements, not “you”. Communication is the most important thing.
i) 5 years (both: 2)
•Everyone has weaknesses. Improve them together, don’t simply tolerate.
j) 8 years (both: 1)
•Don’t let money be your source of misery. You can get through difficult financial times together.
3.. “We should choose to live to change the world.”
4. A realistic goal for a local community: stress the importance of youth, but don’t make expectations ridiculous. As much as the concern of how we will one day head the world is important, so is realizing our humanism. Set realistic goals so that attaining them will not cross the line of impossibility.
6. They protect us from “the tyranny of the majority.” As for diversity, lawyers step in to mediate over customary disputes while still maintaining a perfect respect for the individuality of beliefs and people. With wealth, lawyers weigh out the importance of basic needs and the stress on wealth and luxury. Lastly, pertaining to size, lawyers help “to achieve what the economists call economies of scale.”
7. Punitive Damages seem to have a greater effect than regulations. It is in mistakes do people leave a situation with greater knowledge, not setting rules that are tempting, from some perspectives, to break. Presenting a cause and effect, clear with possible situations and the possible consequences, would be a more positive alternative than to allow businesses to experience great difficulty without fair warnings.
Elder Care facilities will be offset by increased productivity and lower
absenteeism.
Elderly people that retire and stay at home offer employment
opportunities for teenagers
(performing house duties and other chores).
10. They both believe in helping children with unfortunate life situations receive the same opportunities as others and as a whole, make something out of themselves.