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Nothing is impossible.
Man has proven that through automobiles, airplanes, and even landing on the moon. Man has established civilizations and empires that have lasted for centuries. Would it have all been done by one man? No, some may insist. Everything that has been done was attained through cooperation. It brings us to ask if it is then possible for one man to change the world. And due to a lengthy discussion (we are Political Science students, you know), we were asked if the world should change and what we’d like to change about it.
A lot of people may say that change can never be brought about by one. People have helped along the way. Without ‘others’, he wouldn’t have changed anything. Some may also say that the world is an immovable force; it is too big and vast. While a few may not even consider the idea, simply stating that change should begin with us.
Yes, people have helped along the way. Yes, the world is big and vast. Yes, we should start change with ourselves first. But let’s not get ourselves delve deeper into the quicksand of technicalities. If people would always say that an individual had help along the way and ergo, could not be considered, then heroes could not be heroes. We shouldn’t be able to remember Einstein or Andres Bonifacio. If people would stress that the world is vast, then why did Alexander the Great nearly conquer the world? But yes, I do believe in changing ourselves first.
I strongly believe that one man can change the world. Adolf Hitler did. And even President-elect Barack Obama epitomizes the word itself. I may have been called an idealist but I prefer optimist. All of us have the capacity to make a difference, to spark a revolution, to think up a grand idea that can change the world. I think we should just have the conviction, faith in ourselves and humanity, and an incredible vision. After we change ourselves.
With all these arguments, I do believe that the world should change. Again, people may say that without pain, conflict, and death, we would not know what happiness or love is. Virtues would be nonexistent. But aren’t we living in the world everyday trying so desperately to improve ourselves and not wallow in our own filth? Aren’t we being human by bringing pain to other people and solving that afterwards?
Yes, pain, conflict, and death exist. But we strive to forget and move on. I believe that God created this world for us to be happy. The world should change, by people igniting the fire of hope and love in others. We are constantly in a struggle for happiness and we should help others find their own. All the sources of human suffering are in a great degree but are conquerable by human effort; and though their removal is a slow process (generations will have died), it can be achieved.
If I could, I would change the perception of the impossible – in the sense that there are unfathomable problems and that peace or anything close to nirvana cannot be attained. Humanity has already proven itself capable of such a feat, but people are still scared to death of that responsibility.
All of them might be a dream to many. But I’m still an optimist.
‘The real tragedy is the tragedy of the man who never in his life braces himself for his one supreme effort – he never stretches to his full capacity, never stands up to his full stature.’ –Arnold Bennett
