This Is America
With all this talk of grades and synthesis essays, I have realized
that the question, "Can an individual change society?" has kept me at
a mental standstill since Thursday. We have all sat through the history lectures
where blank did not like how he or she was being treated, so they stood up
against XYZ, grew a following, and together with hard work and ingenuity
succeeded in changing the world and how we all view things. Which don’t get me
wrong, is extremely inspirational, but it had me wondering; with controversy being
the topic on every news channel and the world appearing to be getting worse, it begs the question, "Who will be this generation’s hero?" Who is going
to take the metaphorical hand of America and lead us to a better future where
we do not need to worry about the latest Trump tweet or Russian hacktivist?
The only thing that comes to mind when the topic of change comes up would be
the recent school walkouts for stricter gun control. Even though I participate in that, I still feel like we are just being quietly swept under the rug. It's
not that the world can't change, but more on the idea that maybe it doesn't want
to. We are so used to swallowing down the political Kool Aid, accepting that all of these
atrocities are a normal thing, and maybe the world has become hopelessly
immutable. Because at this point, America feels like one of those factories
with the sign hanging from the ceiling that reads "It's been X amount of
days since our last bad thing." We all share our collective moans and
groans of how awful things are, but it's still impossible for any of us to put
our differences and beliefs aside, to come together and make the change that
needs to be done. "My ideal picture of citizenship will always be an
argument, not a sing-along"(Vowell 1064). Naturally, I hope that if some brave iGen/Gen Z does not eventually change the status quo for the better, that there is still hope for the future. Although, maybe we need to stop having hope for the
future, get up, and make something of ourselves.
Yours truly
-Connor
Connor, Connor, Connor... yet another relatable and enlightening post! I loved the whole metaphor about the typical workplace accident sign, it just really rang true. As our generation progresses, there is a lot of pressure on us to "do better than the millennials," and to actually evoke change. However, you're right--there just doesn't seem to be a right way to go about it.
ReplyDeleteConnor, I love this post! It made me become enlightened with new ideas I have never thought of before, including the suggestion of how we might be taking the wrong approach in changing how society is ran. I honestly don't know who will be next to step up and truly direct America in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI love the comparison of america as a factory! it really painted a picture in my mind for the image you were trying to create of how our country is as of right now. (Not sure if it was intentional, but I also laughed at the fact that it was a joke from Daniel Tosh's stand up routine). Great post as always Connor, I truly enjoy reading yours every week.
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