Greater Mistake

One of Edmund Burke’s most famous quotes is: “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little”. Throughout history, this quote has applied to numerous events. People have refused to take action because they believe that their single contributions would have no impact. Due to this belief, tragedies have occurred that could have been prevented. Take for instance; the Civil Rights Movement, Jonathan Swift’s “Modest Proposal”, and the Civil War. Had people taken action, the impact of events could have been more beneficial to everyone. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, the African Americans were fighting for their rights alone. Had Martin Luther King not stepped in, they might have never gained their freedom. He simply could not “sit idly in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham” (King 1). Fearlessly willing to gain equality, he was “able to endure the ordeal of jail” (King)
to help his fellow African American (1.) He helped established the SCLC, advocated a non-violent protest at the Memphis Sanitation Worker Strike, gave his “I Have A Dream” speech, and willingly faced incarceration for his efforts. While other African Americans were involved in the Civil Rights Movement, few made as many sacrifices as he did. While locked up, King took a risk in writing the clergymen the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. In this letter, he included the daily struggles that an African American faces, why he was using a non-violent protest, and why he would not stop until the African Americans earned their freedom. He was aware that if he did not go to those extreme measures in fighting for equality, then it would be a while before anybody else would do so. Western Europe in the 17th century had a weak, aloof government.
People had to endure horrific circumstances. At the time, the government was not addressing its own issues. The people were aware that the government was uninvolved, and did nothing to stop it. Swift believed that if he did not catch the government workers’ attention, then nobody else would have done so. This inspired him to write “A Modest Proposal” which is a satirical and ironic essay about politicians disregarding serious issues. In this essay, he uses an irony to discuss serious issues in Ireland that the government ignores. He compared the issues between Ireland and England to mothers that were “forced to employ all their time forcing to beg sustenance for their helpless infants; who sell themselves to Barbadoes” (Swift 598). Cannibals were not really active in the country, but it illustrated that there were serious, unaddressed issues. While this is a sarcastic writing piece, it is a very real example of how uninvolved the government (and the people)
were. The Civil War is notorious for its bloody battlefields and severe casualties. Many who went into battle were aware of this environment, and willingly sacrificed themselves for the country. Very few had the desire to “give their lives that the nation might live” (Lincoln 1). Had the few who went to fight not had done so, the country may not be as safe as it is today. In Lincoln’s famous speech, “The Gettysburg Address”, he honors those who made the decision to serve their country. The easy choice would have been to stay home with their families, and believe that their individual contributions would not affect the outcome of the war. Instead, they chose to ignore those negative thoughts and make a difference in their country.
Throughout the world, numerous individuals are reluctant to take action. People still believe that their single contributions would have no impact. Whether it’s fighting for equality, confronting the government workers, or defending the country, people are still hesitant. When one person out of a thousand does not take action, then the effects have little impact. However, when thousands of individuals believe that their single contributions are meaningless, the effects are significant. Had nobody taken action during the Civil Rights Movement, Jonathan Swift not written “A Modest Proposal”, or nobody sacrificed their lives for the country, then the events may have had different outcomes.