Matthew Doxey Sewell, Yates IH Humanities 2 3/4/15 According to dictionary.com, Status quo is defined as the existing state or condition, but what happens when the people in a given culture are being hurt by the status quo? Effective and prosperous leaders are those who are willing to listen to the ideas of others because openness to others’ ideas invites participation and increases the amount of interaction and communication between a leader and his followers. There will always be people willing to challenge the status quo because they believe that change is necessary for the betterment of life. Great leaders, both in modern culture and throughout history, have always been willing to challenge the status quo. People will always have to be willing to challenge the status quo if they want to improve their quality of life. If the majority of people are doing things one way that may be wrong or could be improved upon, such as running a government, shouldn’t someone with a better way of doing it come up and say that the way we are doing things is wrong, that we can do this better so it is helpful to more than …show more content…
Georges Danton was a French revolutionary leader and is often credited as the chief force in the overthrow of the monarchy. He was a great leader who was willing to challenge the status quo because he knew that something wrong was going on within the government and he was willing to fight for his goal of a less corrupt, better government for his country. Georges and the other people involved in the overthrow of the monarchy in France during the French revolution such as Napoleon Bonaparte, and many others all had to go against the status quo to bring about the change that was necessary at that point in time. There have been many times throughout history when people have been willing to challenge the status quo, whether a few hundred years ago or just
The reality of life, is that we don't invite those from the other side. we don't go around asking other cultures or society how they do things. We believe that the way we live is the best, and we are to stubborn to admit that we are interested. We are curious of others do things, but we are also afraid. We are afraid to change.For example as James Belasco and Ralph Stayer Flight of the Buffalo (1994), so cleverly put it "Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up."
The Enlightenment was a major turning point in history. Multiple ideas that were established during the Enlightenment were eventually utilized in many government systems. Although some people known as “Enlightened Despots” did not accept the ideas developed by people such as John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Ultimately, the Enlightenment ideas showed that they were more powerful and were more significant than the power of the army.
When the King of England began to infringe on the colonists’ liberties, leaders inspired by the enlightenment grouped together to defend the rights of the American colonies. As Thomas Jefferson writes in the Declaration of Independence, “History of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States” (Jefferson 778). The citizens of France, inspired by the enlightenment, desired a government run by the people. Marquis de Lafayette wrote, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights; social distinctions may be based only upon general usefulness” (de Lafayette 783).
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, rulers adopted basic enlightenment principles, like religious toleration, freedom of speech and press, and the right to hold and maintain private property. According to Kant, in his What is Enlightenment? of 1784, “A prince who…prescribes nothing to men in religious matters but to give them complete freedom while renouncing the haughty name of tolerance, is himself enlightened and deserves to be esteemed by the grateful world and posterity.” Many rulers accepted these newfound ideas; however, when it came time to actually implement them, rulers were often too scared of losing power. This, in turn, led to the idea of an “enlightened despot,” who reflected the principles of the Enlightenment, yet continued to exercise the basic ideals of despotism.
The status quo or my unshakable belief?” There is a push-and-pull between what is right and what is to be accepted as right. Positive Social change is often the result of the paradox we are analyzing. History attests to this.
After the Napoleonic era, the Congress of Vienna restored King Louis XVIII to power in France. The French government now consisted of a king, constitution, and a legislature, but the king still had the most power. Charles X inherited the throne, after his brother Louis XVIII died. King Charles X wanted to rule as an absolute monarch, but the citizens got angry and rebelled. This became known as the Revolution on 1830 and caused Charles to flee to England. Moderate liberals now formed a constitutional monarchy and Louis Philippe was chosen as the new king. By dressing and acting like a normal citizen, Louis Philippe gained popularity among the middle class citizens. Many French people referred to him as the “citizen king.” Louis Philippe increased the number of wealthy citizens that could vote, limited the freedom of the press, and began to silence those who opposed him. These actions gradually made him seem less like a citizen and more like a king. In 1846, an economic depression made life difficult in France for everyone but the wealthy. The economic depression led to ano...
In the absolute monarchy of France two parties ruled the same nation under two men (Dumas, 73). ...
As a person one might find that we follow a specific routine on the day to day basis. Sudden changes to these routines feels weird and out of place. In William Faulkner’s “A Rose For Emily” based in a fictional town called Jefferson taking place during the twentieth century. The time period is indeed an important factor because southern tradition was above all of the highest importance. This short story gives the audience details of life during that time in which they followed the values of southern tradition and the importance to never stray away from those traditions. The context of the story is laced with subliminal messages of humanities resistance to change.
However, the noble-born were not ready to lose their supremacy, and there are very high chances that had they been aware of what the low-class citizens were planning, they would have retaliated with brutal force. Consequently, an upheaval was a need to change France, and anything contrary to that would need concrete proof that the Crown was ready to consider the problems of the people. On that note, contrary to Burke’s views, the people obviously had enough sense to realize that they were never going to have any privileges without force.
Have you ever thought of changing society, or making a difference ? It doesn’t take a lot of people. One person can make a huge difference. People should have their own rights. One of the lots of other amounts of people should not be controlled. An individual should have the power to change society. History supports that because so many people can change the world and make things right. Like an example for Jackie Robinson, “After his retirement Robinson stayed a baseball legend”.
One of the main reasons most revolutionary leaders don’t become strong post revolutionary leaders is because they don’t care about the people. For example, during the aftermath of the French Revolution, also during Napoleon's rule, Napoleon raised many armies(Class notes and Napoleon Homework).
...I feel that if there was a little more acceptance on a global standpoint, and the movement to judge for a person’s ability rather than biased opinions, these problems could be abolished completely. More policy needs to be established to level the unequal wage, a problem to me, that seems ridiculous that this hasn't yet been solved. There is no question that with enough compliance of the global community, this problem can be one of the history books instead of an ongoing struggle for equality. Having role models in the community who can lead the way or break the mold of conformity, are who makes change possible at all. Without Susan B. Anthony showing up to the polls in 1872, there might have been a longer time period of voting restrictions. Every time someone stands up there is a chance of a chain reaction, sparking a movement, a revolution.
Why is it that people are so against the idea of change? Change isn’t scary or frightful. For those people who are scared of change, are the ones who make unfair laws and rules that people who are different have to follow. Like African-Americans, who had far few rights then they do today.
Thesis & Purpose: If people can be more aware of others inborn flaws, then maybe evaluating and rationalizing a tough situation won’t be so tough.
"Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other. ... For every thing that is given something is taken." Emerson, "Self Reliance", p 169