What Kind of Person Tries to Change Society What Is His or Her Character and Motivation - Essay Example

Outline Introduction A) Society view of change i) (Christian Science Monitor B) Perpetration of change i) (Hardy 241) 2. Variation of activists from the rest of the Society A) Courage. i) (Christian Science Monitor 1) ii) (Paul 1) B) Dignity for Human Life i) (Heroes) C) Lead by Example i) (Christian Science Monitor 1) ii) (Hero) D) Confidence. i) (Miriam) E) Optimistic Attitude i) (Christian Science Monitor 1) 3. Commentary What Kind Of Person Tries To Change Society? What Is His Or Her Character And Motivation? Renowned world leaders such as Lincoln, Luther, Margaret Thatcher, and J.F. Kenney dared initiate change in the society. It is admissible that all the personalities had distinctive characters and passion for reforms that initiated their motivation. Change is usually a widely inadmissible idea for most people. Other individuals, however, are not bound to the norms of the society. Such individuals will put extra effort to initiate necessary change in the society. According to Christian Science monitor (1), these individuals are entitled to the difficult tasks facing the society. A change requires risk taking. The risk taking is a psychological characteristic of these individuals and it makes them to have an inclination towards risks. It is common for people to expect changes to result from the authority. Change catalysts in the society do not however wait for such moments. They push for the changes despite the challenges associated. This counter flow to the forces of the norm make this process of pushing for change a daring move for most members in the society who embrace pessimism. Most people opt to changes through violence. Pushing for a change however requires peaceful methodologies to achieve this task. According to Hardy (241), power in the society derives from consent and obedience. Power is therefore not an entitlement of money or position. Agents of change aim to nail these two areas in the society to win the necessary support required for their activities. Hardy goes ahead to explain that people who bring about change use nonviolent mechanisms of advocating reforms. The individuals end up enjoying consistent loyalty from the society. Variations of Activists from the Rest of the Society It is usual for activists in the society to possess a different form of courage. A change, in most cases, is a process rather than an event. It requires consistency both in action and in thoughts. Often, such consistency faces many challenges that try to deviate an individual from their set principles. Both mental and physical changes are required for the continued push of the principles. According to Paul (1), this persistence in taking the risk to bring a change stems from on addiction. Any constrain in their activities acts as a stimulus making them even stronger. Mr. Drayton says that for social change to occur there must be actualization of the intended changes (Christian Science Monitor 1). Individuals who push for positive change in the society have one thing in common; they all have the tendency to denounce oneself for the betterment of others. They have a surprising sense for the human dignity. Protecting the human dignity may imply the protection of violation of the normal life. An example is the case of Lynn Henning, an American hero. Lynn protected her community from environmental pollution induced health conditions resulting from toxic fumes and sludge. The preservation or the betterment of the human dignity requires one to get rid of their personal worries to push for the common good of others. It is a common saying that actions speak louder than words. This is the main distinguishing feature of change agents. They live the change without considering the challenges faced. They believe in the fact that when you change the circle of your life you will end up changing the rest. Living the change is not an effect of sacrifice to them but actually is a fulfillment of extraordinary joy in them (Christian Science Monitor 1). In this case we can consider Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin lived a life for the sake of others not for sacrifice but because he found pleasure in doing so. The changes he advocated for formed part of him, making the separation of his life from the changes impossible. Confidence is an important attribute required to bring about change in the society. A confident individual Many are the times when a change experiences a lot of external negative force. To the extreme extent, this opposing force may stem from within our families. In such cases, others may try to fill us with the “logical facts” that may be persuasive enough to divert the activists. If an individual is not well rooted into what they believe is right the revival they were previously pushing for slowly dies. Despite the need for courage in such cases, one must have confidence. The confidence as based on a profound faith. They believe in what they do and are goal oriented. These change agents remain focused despite all the efforts geared to hinder them. This loyalty to their goals enables them to be confident on emergence of conflicting interests. Drayton suggests that an optimistic attitude is important to keep while advocating for change (Christian Science Monitor 1). He maintains that to bring a change you have to view the occurrence of the change as a possibility. He however indicates that this factor is society defined. It therefore implies that society plays a role in bring forth possible activists. This self-definition forms a web that defines other factors such as persistence and confidence. Existence of a clear vision enhances this attribute. A clear vision helps to secure loyalty from the rest of the society. Consequently, this raises the esteem for the possibility of the change. Heroes who bring a change have an originality that the rest in the society lack. Most people conform to the norms of the society without a personal evaluation of such norms. A change must be a change from the normality of life. This therefore implies that someone must have identified a behavioral abnormality in the society. Change heroes must therefore possess the mentality of viewing things the way they are and the way they should actually be. Heroes go beyond just identification to the desire to bring sanity in such an act. Commentary The main difference between humans and animals is the will power. Will power motivates individuals to initiate reforms in the society. Every human have the power to decide on the course of thoughts to take. Furthermore, the will power creates a sense of originality to every individual. The sense of originality comes with the reevaluation of the beliefs and norms of the society. Human then choose whether to conform or not to the ways, things run in the society. It is justified that the sense of originality defines more by the cognitive part of the brain rather than the affective part. Individuals must therefore be able to let reasoning dominate over their feeling. It is quite true that the major hindrance to change is the giving in to feelings. The main opponent of change is the submission to feelings by most people. Feelings are only to be invitations for a positive change rather than a defining factor for the change. The society has diverse to address on issues that promote good leadership qualities necessary for transforming the society. Currently the society is acting as a mass grave for these individuals. This is because the killing of originality is within the families and learning institutions. Most people do not have freedom of thought in the society. Well this may seem controversial but if a careful evaluated, it will be quite true. For instance, if we take the case of students, much of the learning involves grasping of a preset knowledge and facts. As right as it might appear, it kills the freedom of thought. Consider for instance a situation whereby the learning will involve the proving of the facts at a personal level. I believe that such kind of learning will enhance the personal decision making process of the society. That, on the contrary, will prevent possible manipulation and consequently more changes to the society. I think that the society, especially in the political aspect, needs to practice tolerance. Accommodation of the various differences of thought in society should be encouraged. Many are the times when changes appear detrimental but later prove to be of essence. It is therefore important for tolerance of any kind of deviation of behavior. More is required than just streamlining these constraints of change and the equipping of personnel with the proper traits of heroism. I believe individuals should develop a personal love for a change in their various circles of life. Registrations of massive change in the society will occur only after effecting such initiatives. Change starts at an individual level extending to the entire society and nation. I would wish to see the advent of various changes in the society for they are as good as rest. Moreover, I think a change is necessary to revive individual’s efforts by eradication of boredom resulting from normality. References Polster, Miriam. Eves Daughters: The Forbidden Heroism of Women. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Press, 2001. Print. Paul Roberts. Psychology Today: Risk. January 1994. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. Christian Science Monitor. Difference Maker: Extreme do-gooders- what makes them tick? 07 Sep. 2009. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. Merriman, Hardy. “Agents of Change and Nonviolent Action.” Conservation Biology 22 (2008): 241-242. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. Moral Heroes. “Inspiration of the Hero in You.” The Titans Graphics 19 Sep. 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. Read More