Do You Agree With Margaret's Perspective

Our class discussions helped me to relate to Antigone’s struggles to get both Creon and the citizens to understand her reasoning for burying Polynieces. She claimed that dying being loved by the one she loved was more important than any law made by Creon. She would rather die than see injustice being committed and remain both stagnant and silent. I think that especially today it is important to speak up when we see injustice. We are lucky enough to live in a country with freedom of speech so we should recognize this benefit and use it. Peaceful demonstrations of beliefs to raise awareness to the values you find to be true can be very effective.

People often only realize this after the worst occurs. One person’s actions can stop something from going downhill. In class, when we analyzed 60 Minute’s “Bad Samaritan,” through David Cash’s story, we came to realize that indeed, just one person’s actions could make a difference. If David Cash had stopped the violence, Sherrice Iverson would still be alive today. If Hitler chose not to exterminate Jews, the Holocaust would not have happened. The takeaway is that if we expand our universe of obligation, we will feel responsible for more people. In turn, we will help more people, and furthermore, we might prevent something terrible; we might prevent a genocide. Through analyses in class, we realize that more often than not, people have a very limited universe of obligation. In the video which we watched in class of a Gay Teen being bullied, many people in the surroundings of the video ignored the incident. It is clear, that they do not feel obligated to the teenager. Similarly, in Night, Franek simply takes out Eliezer’s crown without any guilt. Franek does not feel obligated to Eliezer. This feeling leads to the division of society. An analysis of Night allows teens to understand the need for an expansion, to create unity and change the world for the

Forcing opinion and judgement onto others is detrimental and an individual’s drive to challenge the status quo and constructions of society is paramount in achieving acceptance in individual differences. In Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird”, Scout the narrator, and her family fight for justice in the society they live in, through questioning the status quo, whereas the majority don’t. When people ponder about a positive change in society, they realise that society can change.

Individuals can make a difference and enact change within society. Even though people may have beliefs and opinions that differ, it is still possible to make changes that help to put all citizens on a more equal footing. In chapter one, Virginia Ramirez teaches us that we are never too old to find our inner strength to stand up for what is right. This is exactly what she did for her elderly neighbor who died because she could not get the help she so desperately needed. Virginia spoke up and advocated even though it angered her husband at first. Her story like many others found throughout this book inspire me to want

Examples can be found throughout history, revolutionaries who pushed for a better tomorrow. In the American Revolution, the revolutionary leaders faced punishment by the British, but with the dream of a brighter future of independence, John Hancock audaciously inscribed his name at the base of the Declaration of Independence, the document signifying the birth of a nation, built on the hope that a person could work hard and be rewarded, and that a people could live freely without fearing oppression from any reigning monarch. Even if it’s not sparking a revolution, even if the eyes of the world isn’t watching, people are forced with the weighing decision of whether to make a difference or let the issue pass peacefully over them, ignored, everyday. In places like schools, workplaces, and on the streets of the world, witnesses see injustice, and are faced with a split second decision: do I do something or ignore it? A good citizen stands up, and faces the crowd, tells the bully to back down, and does something to make life better, even for a short period, because they know that everyone deserves

Sometimes it takes a terrible act to trigger the desire to achieve change, such as the killing of Tariq. His murder created such an uproar that it brought together a community of people not just from the same neighborhood, but from all around. For example, one of Tariq’s friends, Tyrell states, "Jack Franklin killed more than Tariq that day. He killed me, too."( author page). All kinds of people were effected by this injustice and wanted a change. It was no longer acceptable to stand aside and let the white race be on top. It became a bigger issue than just a black child murdered, but there came a turning point that made everyone realize that all of the wrongdoings of the white people were no longer going to be accepted or pushed to the side. This community knew what was wrong and they came together to make a difference and stand up for what they believed to be right. The only way to make the change was to demand it. It was no longer one person standing up by themselves or battling with strangers. It was a whole group who agreed on one issue, justice. It was no longer stranger next to stranger, it was brother by brother and sister by

Firstly, communication is key in every situation. Proper communication in this story could have prevented a lot of the negative issues that occurred.

Imagine having nothing, and no one to help. Imagine a life where there are people who hurt others are only in power because those who can stop them remain silent. Many people live and have lived a life where this is a reality. It is the responsibility of the people to stand up for the rights of others because-

Having multiple people come together can truly have an enormous impact. In “I am Malala,” Malala’s valley is under control by the Taliban. Malala and her father would be the brave ones to speak out against them. The Swatis coming together against the Taliban had a much bigger impact than only Malala and her father speaking up against the Taliban. Studies have shown that crime rates decrease when communities come together. People connecting together and voicing opinions is way more powerful than one voice standing alone.

During certain times of history, communities have been swallowed up by times of darkness seeming hopeless. Events in history help to illustrate this fact. In the book Lynchings in Duluth, this fact is evident through people unwilling to go against the crowd. When describing the scene of the lynching, the author states, “from the streets and sidewalks, other men grabbed onto the rope and marched behind, encouraging others to join. The procession grew rapidly. Young men barely out of high school were urging older men to come with them” (Fedo 47). Although some men were very passionate about the cause, others were only participating as a result of peer pressure. Not enough people were willing to stand up against the majority, so they let it happen.

Roger had very little control over his situation but Danny helped him move from a car to a house. Danny could have forgotten about his cousin and gone on with life, but he chose to make a difference in Rogers’s life. Anyone could have helped Roger and that is why it is important to always try to make an impact in the world. Danny took an interest in Roger’s situation and created a youth-led organization dedicating to running programs that will bring a sense of stability and normalcy and also allow foster children to make their own choices. Danny got no money making the organization but just to help. People can make a difference in the world without money invested. Most people choose to ignore problems because of the time and money going into the solution. If people knew how to make a difference without losing money, the world would change for the better. People are losing their freedom because of being discriminated just like foster children are losing

People need to stand firm for what they believe in; otherwise it can affect their future decisions. In the essay, “The Step Not Taken” by Paul D’Angelo, the narrator did not help a crying man who was in need of comfort, rather he walked away because that is what society expects of him. “The few people I have told about the incident all say I did the proper thing, the best thing, by leaving the young man alone” (Angelo, 1). The few people that the narrator told, they represented the opinion of society. The representation shows that it is better to leave a crying man alone, than to assist him. Society has become unbelievably corrupted that people are afraid to help one another in the fear of being judged. Fear can be expressed in many different forms. In this case, the narrator expressed his fear in the form of being reserved and keeping to himself. The fear of being mocked or made a fool of is something everyone has dealt with at one point or another. In this situation, people have two alternatives, to turn that fear and create it into something positive or let society be their voice and have no say in their decisions, effectively becoming society's

During the Civil Rights Era from 1954-1968, leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin and many others utilized the strength of voice to empower the people they were representing. When they stood up to speak, their reason for speaking was not to make others change their minds, but instead, to encourage and inspire those who already believed in their cause and shared their hardships. Fast forward to today, and the same methods are being used. In Jeff Chang’s book, “We Gon’ Be Alright”, he is constantly using examples and stories as the evidence to back up his ideas and his perspective. While most people think the reason for that is to change the reader’s way of thinking, Chang doesn’t try to persuade anyone. His

Change will most likely occur when rights are fought for when making one’s voice heard. Most can relate the impression of needing a difference to happen to what they believe in and see what is wrong. This notion is represented many times throughout the novel Speak, but one major example of this is part of the ending of the book. After school one day Melinda heads to her beloved closet to pack up her things when Andy Evans locks her inside, trapped with him. Andy then takes this opportunity to harass Melinda. Instead of letting this pain be afflicted onto her, Melinda speaks up, knowing a change needs to happen. She fights Andy back and he is exposed as the monster he is truly. Similar to Melinda, a very important figure in history also recognized

“We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives. Mankind’s greatest gift, also its greatest curse, is that we have free choice. We can make our choices built from love or from fear.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross