Changing Society in Lasting, Constructive Ways

Changing Society in Lasting, Constructive Ways Change is inevitable. It has always happened and always will. However, making changes in society has never been easy. In order to change society in lasting and constructive ways, it requires charismatic leaders, a group of people that has faith and obeys the leader, and strategic plans. Without charismatic leaders, changes in society might not be made. A leader is an important person because they are willing to stand out to direct and control people. Leaders require the characteristics of a hero. In the article, "Eve 's Daughters," Polster (2001) writes that heroes have faith in themselves, and they can also convince other people that the habits and customs of the community can be changed. They are willing to be the catalysts even if they have to face opposition. They even consider the risk of death and injury to be less important than their purpose. Indeed, if no one was willing to take risks, we would not be able to live in such a highly developed society today (Smith, 2006). For example, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr. for using nonviolent resistance to overcome injustice, for trying to end segregation laws, and now, there is no longer segregation in restaurants, on the buses, etc. Anything that happened must have started from one person, even if that is not the person who we can recognize today in our history books. Tollefson (1993) writes in his article "Is a Hero Nothing but a Sandwich?," that without a leader, changes in society might also happen but with slower rate and unclear vision. Leaders have determination, self-discipline, willpower, and nerve. They set goals and have a vision of the future. Effective leaders envision what needs to be done, how to get it, and go after it. However, leaders also need the community as much as the community needs them. Making changes in society will never be achievable if no one has faith and obeys the leader. Not only leaders but people also need to have faith in themselves as well. They need to realize that they should choose to act instead of suffering unhappy circumstances (Polster, 2001). People usually forget that they are the power holders, the agents of change in their society. That is the reason why they are not confident that their actions could make any difference. In the article, "Agents of Change and Nonviolent Action," Merriman (2008) writes that if people alter their faithfulness and obedience, the balance of power will also change; in other words, rulers cannot rule if no one obeys. Publicizing and convincing more people to join are also very important because their power will be stronger with extra help from the majority of supporters. Even though the achievements might be restrained, their influence on mobilizing people is massive (Merriman, 2008). People actually can motivate those movements worldwide. Nevertheless, people would not be able to make change in society easily without making specific plans. In order to make changes in society successfully, people need to have strategic and effective plans. Planning makes us focus attention on a clear direction and offset uncertainty. Merriman (2008) writes that it requires a thorough vision that connects people, convincing plans, and proper methods for the situation. It is important to realize the necessity of planning. Plans help people know the process of what they are doing and what they should do next. According to James Lawson, who helped organize the Nashville Student Movement 's successful sit-in campaign of 1960, they cannot go on a movement without any discipline; everything has to be done methodically (cited in York, 2000). People can also assure themselves that they have already been prepared. According to John Lewis, a veteran of the Nashville Student Movement, they were proud and satisfied with what they had learned in the workshops and everything that they had been through (cited in York, 2000). As a result, they were convinced in themselves that they had finally passed the test. Society will continue to develop and lose features that will never be seen again. New cultures and ways of living will be seen. To be able to achieve that, the society needs to have powerful leaders, a community that believes and obeys the leader, as well as effective plans.

References
Merriman, H. (2008, April 8). Agents of change and nonviolent action. Conservation Biology, Vol. 22, Issue 2.
Polster, M. (2001). Eve 's daughters. Gestalt Journal Press.
Smith, J. (2006, August 9). Living on the edge: Extreme sports and their role in society. Retrieved from http://www.summitpost.org/
Tollefson, T. (1993, May / June). Is a hero really nothing but a sandwich? Utne Reader.
York, S. (Producer & Director). (2000). A force more powerful [Documentary]. (Available from York Zimmerman, Inc., http://www.yorkzim.com)

References: Merriman, H. (2008, April 8). Agents of change and nonviolent action. Conservation Biology, Vol. 22, Issue 2. Polster, M. (2001). Eve 's daughters. Gestalt Journal Press. Smith, J. (2006, August 9). Living on the edge: Extreme sports and their role in society. Retrieved from http://www.summitpost.org/ Tollefson, T. (1993, May / June). Is a hero really nothing but a sandwich? Utne Reader. York, S. (Producer & Director). (2000). A force more powerful [Documentary]. (Available from York Zimmerman, Inc., http://www.yorkzim.com)