You can’t have power without making dangerous enemies [Revised]

Many people in today’s society such as students have a person that they want to compete with. Whether it is having an equal footing or to surpass another, both are constantly competing for the top spot. Throughout evolution power was superiority to many and because it was superior, therefore it caused many to seek for power. Thus because many seek for it, there became competition. Power can only be obtain when there is competition between two organisms. Without many organisms searching to change, power would cease to exist.

        Since the beginning of time, organisms competed for food, territory, and their survival chances. Throughout evolution, the human species also began evolving. During the Stone Age, humans consistently competed for food. There were many animals dangerous to humankind but in order to defend themselves and find food, they created tools such as the spear to hunt. They were also able to create simple tools from rocks and sticks to scare and hunt the dangerous animals around them. The more deadly the animal was, the more ways they learnt to protect themselves.

When one looks deeper into history, you can see the pattern of many countries fighting to protect and claim territory from each other. For instance the war between Britain and France over our country, Canada. Both countries have been enemies for years and both knew exactly how powerful the other was. Yet they constantly sent troops to war to battle each other, for power. Since both countries were equally powerful both would plan and develop more advanced tools to surpass each other. Although in the end Britain did win the war to claim  Canada, Britain had lost the war in Europe, Thus proving it was not a complete victory. Therefore proving that power can only be gained if there is two competing organisms or forces. Jealousy and envy can cause both organisms to want to surpass each other.

        To sum up, having a more dangerous and powerful enemy can cause someone to strive for more power. Without a stranger opposing force, it is much like moving on in life without a goal. Hence, it is much harder to continue to strive for more power or change. Power is constantly competed for, everywhere in the world. Either from bugs to students, competition and power would  ceased to exist.

Power always corrupts the one who holds it [Revised]

 Harold Macmillan once said “Power? It’s like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there”. There are many stories, events, movies, games, and novels based on Power. It can be the greatest thing one can achieve but at the same time the most destructive. In order to gain power you need to struggle for it, to keep gaining power you need another’s help, and with power obtain there is a great responsibility.
         
          One doesn’t gain power out through the thin air; he or she first strives and struggles for it. Through all the efforts they make they slowly gain power to fulfill their goals. But with the power gained, there is always an opposing force. The opposing force is envious, jealous, and does not agree. The person will keep gaining power to suppress the force. So they could keep their goals in reach. Just like Julius Caesar, he started out as a soldier wanting to help his country. He trained hard to keep moving his rank up, and on the battlefield, aggressive to win.

          Although a person has gained power he or she cannot proceed to gain more without another’s help. Julius Caesar couldn’t have become King without the power of his comrades around him. Power is nothing if you don’t have people to support you or enemies that want to bring you down. Throughout history there was many Kings that ruled countries. The King’s influence was utterly powerful; it brought people together or their own downfall. For example Louis Riel once guillotined France’s king, Louis XVI and gained an enormous amount of power and influence through the lower and middle class. Riel was able to rule France for a period of time with his ongoing influence, but as the influence and power grew the fear inside of him grew also. He started to enforce the laws and anyone who looked suspicious, wanted to end the stop Louis Riel’s ambition they were captured, or sentenced to death. This period was the Reign of Terror, and where it got its name was the many deaths during the period of time. Riel’s influence was still strong but it caused fear into the crowds and himself too.

         
             The position of King or leader contains a massive amount of power, influence, and responsibility. Since there were many deaths during the reign of terror, Riel had to take responsibility. Due to the fact that he was the one who enforced the laws and had anybody suspicious dealt with. Even though Riel was once loved by the people, his power was corrupted by his fear. The consequences had outweighed his power and influence, and eventually leading him to his own death.

            As a result, power does not just appear through the thin air. It is sought by all people of all kind. Either it is for ruling or to prove one’s self; it is struggled and strived for. In order to obtain power, you first must struggle for it. In order to maintain your power, you must gain influence through another. Once you have fulfilled your desires and goals, there is no longer a dream you can run after for unless you keep looking ahead. There is only one thing you can have and it is the consequences one has neglected or avoided when striving for power. The consequences can be people being envious and jealous of your fulfilled dreams making one’s power corrupted and unwanted.

Positive Changes Brought Out Through Violence. REVISED

Violence, it has been a part of every living creature since the beginning of time. It is human instinct to defend yourself, to survive, and most of the time, survival is brought out through violence. Many people argue that violence is not nor ever will be the answer, and although this can be argued in some situations, it can still be argued that violence can be beneficial in some situations when it comes to avoiding worse or more severe violence in the future.

            In the French Revolution, King Louis the Sixteenth and his wife Marie Antoinette ruled France in such a way that left their country starving to death while they lived a very comfortable and extravagant life. They would spend large sums of money on things like jewelry, clothing, and furniture; leaving nothing for the starving people of France. Taxes were set so high for the lowest class of people that it was only a matter of time before a rebellion. Soon enough, France did rebel and King Louis and Marie Antoinette were executed, although this was a violent way to end the reign of King Louis the Sixteenth, most believe it was necessary to save the lives of everyone else in France. A violent end was inevitable in this situation.

            When Julius Caesar was dictator of the Roman Republic, he was overthrown and assassinated by some of his closest confidants, it was gruesome and very violent, he was stabbed to death by a group of Roman Senators. Caesar didn't necessarily do something to harm others but he was still a dictator. This use of violence can be controversial in a way, because in the opinions of some, violence should be used to prevent more violence in the future, yet not many people were in physical harm when he ruled, yet violence was needed because Julius Caesar would not have just stepped down.

            In situations like the Second World War, violence was the answer at all. The Second World War was a dark time, so many innocent people lost their lives, and the United States had a role in the loss of thousands upon thousands of people. In 1939, the US began work on the Manhattan Project; it was meant to be a response to the attack the Japanese made on Pearl Harbor yet the US took things to extreme levels. Two nuclear bombs were to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; two cities in Japan, and in 1945, these two bombs were dropped, killing over 60,000 innocent people. Violence should never be used to harm any innocent person, which these bombs did.

            Violence is a difficult thing to think about. It can be thought of in a positive way, like to stop rulers like King Louis the Sixteenth, or Julius Caesar, however it can also be used to crush innocent people, like in the nuclear bombings in Japan. It is believed that most times, harming another person is inexcusable, yet sometimes in a defensive way, violence can be used to create a positive change and outcome.

Revised There are positive and negative consequences for being too loyal.

Again there is not a lot of changes made. I just have a hard time picking things that need to be changed.

"Unless you can find some sort of loyalty, you cannot find unity and peace in your active living" - Josiah Royce.

Loyalty and being loyal seems like a good thing and something you should have and its true. The state or quality of being loyal is faithfulness to commitments or obligation. However, besides being positive, it can also have some negative consequences. 

Loyalty is expressed as positive and brought into this world being a good thing, and it is. It is defined as honesty, love, respect, and devotion. Being a loyal person can have the ability to make people trust you. Loyalty is found in brave, strong, and bold people and a truly loyal person is dependable in all problems. Loyalty can cause a person to be happy because it means someone cares and to make someone happy with who you are can be the ultimate prize. 

On the other hand, there is the negative effect of being loyal or too loyal. Sometimes people could be so loyal that their distracted and can't see that people can take advantage of them. If you are really loyal and someone does something thats not right you won't want to do anything about it. If you said something to them it might hurt them and you might feel like your being disloyal. 

All things considered, while loyalty is good it has a bad side. However, its not what loyalty is but what you make it so you can choose how you want it to effect you, whether its positive or negative. 

Revised Power Alway's Corrupts The One Who Holds It.

I know there are not a lot of changes made to this essay but it was hard for me to pick things to change.

Control is defined as the power to influence or direct people's behaviour over the course of events, but why does it have to corrupt the one who has it?

In our world there are few people that have power and usually the ones who do end up not liked or corrupted by all they have. There are many reasons to why people have power but what are the reasons that they get corrupted by it?

One reason that someone could get corrupted is if they gain power and use it to help others and realize they could use it for personal gain. For example, the person who holds the power might find ways to help others with it and that could start off being good. However, if they realize they are able to achieve lots with power they could eventually end up using it for themselves. Once they start using it for personal reasons they continue and continue and never stop. They then end up corrupted by it.

Another reason might be that they lose touch of there humanity. Once they have all there power they will do anything to keep it. For example, when someone gets the power they might kill someone just to maintain that power. The person could care less about everything else and only focus on keeping the power. They would risk losing their friends, family, and even themselves just to make sure the power stays with them and they will never loose it.

Even though power may seem like a great asset to have, put in the wrong hands, it can easily become negative. At first they will use it as honest men but as time goes on they will realize how much power over people they have and start using it towards their own benefit. Over time the person won't want to lose the power and will do whatever it takes to keep it and in conclusion, they will become corrupted.

Hey Group Members!

Hey group members,

As you know, our revised essays are due on the blogs on Friday. After Ruvini posted a very detailed and helpful comment on my first essay, I was able to post a revised copy. However, one of you has yet to post a comment on my second essay (Power always corrupts those who hold it). If one of you could kindly read over and give feedback about my essay, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! :)

-Brianna

(REVISED) It is sometimes necessary to do things you know are wrong in order to achieve an important goal.

"It is sometimes necessary to do things you know are wrong in order to achieve an important goal."


   While deciding on which theme to pick for my multi-paragraph essay, I saw this one, and I felt like I could relate to it. It's true. I believe that, at some point in our lives, we will all have to do something that is wrong, in order to succeed in the plan at hand. Doing the negative to result in a positive. It's kind of weird when you think about it. You may be thinking, 'How does that even work?!' It does seem a bit odd, but, in reality, people do it all the time.

   For an example, have you ever lied to a friend about something? Let's be honest. It's normal for people to lie to their friends about something, like when you want to surprise them for their birthday. It goes the same for anyone. Parents, siblings, relatives....just about anyone. Lying can sometimes be a good thing...but only if you're doing it to benefit others. Usually, people shouldn't lie to benefit themselves, but sometimes it is necessary.For example, you are at a bank at the ATM, and an armed robber comes in. He asks you for your card and your PIN, so he can deposit money from your account. If he asks you for your PIN, lie. Give him your PIN backwards. (i.e. if your PIN is 1234, tell him its 4321). This will still give him the money, but I bet some of you didn't know, that the bank machines have the ability to automatically dial the police department when you enter your PIN backwards. So your robber still gets the money, but he'll have the police on his tail as well. (True fact. This actually works, if you're ever in a pickle). So, you see, sometimes when you LIE, you can end up canning a criminal and saving lots of people a whole bunch of money!

  However, more times than not, doing the wrong thing can be a BAD thing. You may still be trying to accomplish a task at hand, but it may not be necessary and/or legal or appropriate, etc. For example, telling your friend Lindsey you've never met her new boyfriend Colin, when it was you two kissing behind the school yesterday. Or maybe you lied about doing your Math homework, when you really just didn't want to do it. Another good example, is a bank robber. That bank robber may steal lots of money, but just because he wants a Mercedes, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. Other people may simply have no choice. If a family is living in poverty, and cannot afford food, it may be necessary for them to steal, if they do not have access to a food bank. It may not be a legal thing to do, but sometimes, things that we do that are wrong and illegal, may really just be necessary. Some people may have to take a U-Turn if there is a real emergency. Some people may have to break into people's private properties with force, if someone inside is in danger or hurt. Some people just have to take risks, simply because they have no choice. 


Overall, it is sometimes necessary to do things that are wrong in order to achieve an important goal. I am in support of this, however, only doing wrong for good. Generally, I don't believe in doing wrong things for your own personal benefit. So, in conclusion, although doing wrong things to benefit yourself or others may seem weird, it's a lot more common than you think. The best way to come by these beneficial outcomes is through lying. Although doing wrong can be a good thing (sometimes), it can also be a bad thing. Sometimes, people sometimes simply have no choice. But, it's as they say: "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Revised "Does power Always Corrupt the One Who Holds It."

Chelsey Schmitt                     Does Power Always Corrupts the One                    April 16, 2013      

       Who Holds It?

 

 

            “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  This is a quote said from John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. Is what John stating true? Does power always corrupt? These are just a few questions you are probably wondering and I am trying to answer.

 

Absolute power is being able to do anything you want without question. This can be extremely dangerous to a person and others involved with them. With saying that, there are also some upsides that come along with power. There are two kinds of power – personalized power and socialized power. One has a positive impact on society and one a negative. I will be explaining how each of these powers work and the effects thy can have on us.

 

The first kind of power is personalized power which is the negative kind. This is the kind of power that people use for personal gain, usually at the expense of others. The kinds of people who use this power get away with using power for personal reasons because their “followers” tend to believe what they are doing is has no wrong because that person is in power for a reason. When you are in the presence of a leader using personalized power, understand that if you think what is happening is wrong, you should take a stand and do something about it.

 

A common reason people want power for selfish reasons is simply just to have power. They just want power to satisfy their selves and have no intentions of using it to benefit others. For these people, power can be like a drug. Once these types of people have a taste of power, they want more and then can’t stop, like it’s an addiction. They might then be into their “power trip” so deep that they can’t stop and even start to believe there is nothing wrong in what they are doing. An example of someone who has been corrupted with power is a store manager that treats employees below them poorly without respect because they feel that they are superior to them, or takes credit for the work that his employees do.  When people use power for personal reasons, they are almost definitely going to be corrupted and I think people who use personalized power should not have the privilege of power.

 

On the other hand, there is a kind of power that is used positively. This kind of power is called socialized power. Socialized power is when someone uses their position of power to benefit others. They usually use their power effectively to get the job done to thee best of their abilities. They have the best interests of others in mind and are not just in it for themselves. These kinds of people have not been corrupted by power. They are smart, possess good moral values and are strong enough to hold their ground and not let power take them over. The fact that there are people out there that are using their power for the good of others makes me believe that power doesn’t always corrupt.

 

In our society, there are many positions of power, such as the Prime Minister, school principals and presidents of businesses. Positions of power are extremely important in our society to maintain control and provide direction. We must be careful in picking and monitoring our leaders to ensure they are using socialized power and not personalized power.

 

In this essay I have shown both kinds of power, good and bad. I have argued points that, yes, power can corrupt the one who holds it, but not necessarily all the time. Power can be extremely dangerous but it is also an important part of our society. Power can lead to chaos and problems but, without it, there would be no control or order in the world. It is all our jobs to make sure we don’t let power get into the wrong hands. Power is powerful and we always need to be aware of and be careful with it.

Revised "Loyalty"

Chelsey Schmitt                                                 English Essay                                                      April 10, 2013

                                                                                 LOYALTY

 

                Loyalty. It can be the reason you know someone will be there for you in time of need or it can be the reason you have to sacrifice something you want for someone else. There are both positive and negative consequences for being too loyal. Too much of anything can be harmful, including loyalty. Loyalty is one of the most important attributes in life. Without loyalty, people would have no trust or confidence in each other. With this being said, you want to be careful with yours and others loyalty because you don’t want it to be taken for granted but at the same time it is what makes the world go around. Loyalty is something we depend on from our peers and other people in our life, but can it have a negative impact on us as well? In this essay, I will be discussing why there can be positive and negative consequences of being loyal.

The most positive outcome of being a loyal person is that you have a reputation as being a trustworthy, well rounded person. Loyalty is one of the best personality traits that one can have.  Others will trust and respect you and know that they can always count on you. This will most likely make you feel good about the person you are and that you are helping out others. Your friends will have a great amount of trust in you, knowing that they can always count on you and you will always be there for them. Also, if you are loyal to others, then they will most likely be loyal back to you and help you out if you are ever in a time of need. Without this loyalty, no one would be able to trust anyone and people’s relationships would be torn apart. What kind of world would it be if we couldn’t look to others in a time of need.

The main negative outcome of being too loyal is that people can easily take advantage of you because they might look at you as a weak individual. If someone knows you are a loyal person, they might try to take advantage of your loyalty by always asking you to do things for them knowing you will probably say yes. When you are always being loyal to others you will probably, at times, have to put your wants aside. If you are always doing things for others, you might not consider doing what’s best for you or what is important to you. You should only be loyal to people who deserve your loyalty and will give you theirs back. If being loyal is having a negative impact on you, then you might have to re-assess your standards and relationships.

Being loyal is an amazing trait to have that many will appreciate and it shows that you have good morals. You will also enjoy many benefits from being a loyal person. Unfortunately, there are some downsides to being too loyal that can make life very inconvenient for you. You should always make sure your loyalty is handled carefully and do not let anyone take it for granted. Hopefully you can do your best to make the positives of being loyal outweigh the negatives!

Revised: "It is not necessary to do the things you know are wrong, in order to achieve an important goal."

I once read in an article, “to win at any cost makes for hollow victories,” and I find these words to be very true. Lying, backstabbing, and cheating to get what you want is not, under any circumstances, the answer. The greatest tragedies in history once stemmed from a ruthless leader plotting his victory at the expense of other people’s lives. On a smaller scale, issues like steroids being used in sports is also an example of how people are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top. It is not necessary to do the things you know are wrong in order to achieve a goal, no matter how “important” it is to you. You simply cannot justify consciously making a choice that you know will have a negative effect on the people around you, just to get your way.

In this day and age, the “winning-at-any-cost” attitude is a common mindset amongst many teens today. An example: athletes. Casually brushed off by adults as “over competitive”, or “occasionally aggressive”, they tend to fly under the radar as nothing more than a promising sports player. However, some of these seemingly perfect athletes are prepared to do literally anything in order to get a trophy, medal or even to win an ordinary ribbon. Whether they turn to drugs, steroids, or simply playing dirty, their underlying intentions are clear: they are willing to do whatever it takes to win, no matter who gets hurt or in trouble in the process. This is definitely a very real and relatable topic for teenagers nowadays. And if these corrupted athletes have grown up thinking that what they are doing is okay, who knows what it may lead to when they grow older and get a job! What else might they be able to excuse then?

Now, you might be thinking – what’s wrong with having a goal? There is nothing wrong with having a goal, it is just the way that some people set about to achieve the goal that is the problem. Think about it this way: even Adolf Hitler had a goal. He wanted to “create” a wholly German nation where everyone was blond-haired and blue-eyed. He wanted to “purify” the Aryan race, through the elimination of “sub-humans” including Jews, Asians, black Africans, etc. This dream, this sick, sadistic dream, eventually led to the death of over 11 million people in the Holocaust. And yet, as callous a human as Hitler may have been... he was still a human. And despite everything, he probably did have a conscience. Which is why it is even more appalling that he did what he did, just to create that atrocious idea of perfection.

Both of these scenarios – one on a larger scale and one on a smaller scale – are examples of why it is definitely not necessary to do the things you know are wrong in order to achieve an important goal. Although, hopefully, none of us can relate to causing the widespread death of 11 million people, I am sure that we all know of a peer or a friend who has that “win-at-all-cost” mindset. And even though they may have temporary success with that attitude, it is bound to be their greatest downfall in the future. Justifying minor cases like playing dirty in soccer in order to win a game at our age may lead to more serious issues when they get older. So please, if you find that you are the kind of person who is willing to trample anyone to get to the top, think again, reconsider your actions, and do what you know is right. It will definitely benefit you more in the long run!

Revised- "Power Always Corrupts Those Who Hold It"

Power; the textbook definition of this word is “political or national strength”. Power of this type in moderation is quite useful and necessary to maintain a peaceful society. However, it is when leaders abuse this power that they become corrupt. They often start out with honest intentions but soon are blinded by the desire for more. May it be money, fame, or more power, personal gain soon becomes the center of these leaders’ lives. Power is addicting, therefore it is inevitable that power always corrupts the ones who hold it. Evidence is in favour of this statement, considering the three corrupt political leaders that will be discussed throughout this essay.

To start, during the 1930s, Germany was in deep debt. In return, the people were willing to give up democracy for financial relief. Little did they know that their nation would soon be dictated for over a decade by a single-minded tyrant, Adolph Hitler. Hitler took advantage of Germany’s money troubles, and to be honest, he did improve the economy. However, once he gained popularity, he promoted himself through propaganda to fulfill his desires to expand his regime. At this time, he became so greedy to dominate the world that he used force to keep his power. He had too much influence in his hands, and soon became corrupt. Hitler killed a number of innocent victims, many only because he had the authority to. Ultimately, Hitler started out with the goal of ameliorating Germany’s financial situation, but soon he advanced in attempt to conquer the world for his own benefit. Greed is what brought this man to corruption, as it did to many other political leaders.

During the 1970s, after working in many political occupations, Saddam Hussein came to power as President of Iraq. This politician was corrupt from the start. To elaborate, Hussein pressured the previous Prime Minister Bakr to resign in order for Hussein to succeed into Bakr’s position. To add, he immediately had his oppression systematically killed and he enlarged his security forces. Furthermore, Hussein employed relatives and trusted friends in higher positions to keep the power in his own hands. Incredibly, over 50% of the Iraqis were hired by the government, military, or had a relative who was. These occupations were controlled by Hussein, meaning he had an enormous amount of power and influence in Iraq. Hussein was so fanatical that he murdered thousands of his citizens. He didn’t care for his country; he only strived for personal profit.

Lastly, another example of corrupt leaders is President George W. Bush. He was elected with promises of bettering health care, resolving environmental issues, improving welfare, and reducing America’s debt. However, after two significant events, he proved to be no better than Hitler or Hussein. To illustrate, in September 2001, there were devastating attacks on multiple sites in USA by the Al Qaeda. Instead of dealing with these attacks in a smart way, Bush raised fear and brought on an unjust, unnecessary war. The majority of his reasons to fight were for his government’s own benefit, and many consider this to be a “war of choice”. As an example, the war was seen by Bush as an opportunity to secure Iraqi oil. This was one of quite a few motives behind Bush’s decision. As if this were not enough, Bush demonstrated his government’s corruption again in 2005, during the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. Many criticized the government’s delayed lacking response. For instance, President Bush was on vacation when disaster struck, and did not return to Washington until two days post-disaster. Along with other complaints about his response, Bush didn’t handle this emergency well overall. Bush’s incapability to take action successfully regarding these two incidents was a result, with no doubt, of too much power leading to corruption.

These three great political leaders are perfect examples of power leading to corruption. These people may have started out with good intentions, but soon were conquered by greed. Hitler strived to expand his reign, Hussein wanted to control the entire country of Iraq, and Bush was searching for opportunities to make America the most influential nation of all. All in all, each of these politicians was seeking no more than personal gain. Like the Lion King’s uncle Scar, these politicians’ downfalls were their own greed, fear of losing power, and jealousy. To conclude, it is evident that power always corrupts those who hold it; it is inevitable.

Revised- "Strange Events in the Natural World Can Be Signs of Things to Come in the Our Lives"

Since the start of time, we have experienced unexplainable events occurring in the natural world. However, more recently, scientists have noticed that many of these abnormal occurrences happen prior to unusual events in our lives. This prompts one to consider; is there any correlation between these natural signs and our own lives? To elaborate, animals “predicting” natural disasters as well as full moons inferring erratic human behaviour are two examples that prove this link. Accordingly, it is evident that strange events in the natural world can be signs for what is to come in our lives.

To start, throughout the scientific community, it is widely believed that animals can sense when a tsunami or flood is coming their way. In return, many flee their habitats in search of higher, safer ground. The reason animals but not humans have this early warning aptitude is quite understandable. To explain, most animals have much greater instincts than us, and their senses are much sharper. It is said that many animals can feel chemical changes happening in the groundwater prior to these natural disasters. Proof of this marvel was shown in December 2004, when a disastrous tsunami upset the Indian Ocean. In places including Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Africa, it was reported that a few days before the tsunami, animals of all shapes and sizes fled to seek refuge. Miraculously, there were no mass animal deaths recorded from this catastrophe! Just like this instance, there are countless similar cases of animals leaving their homes in advance of a tsunami. This indicates that these peculiar events in the natural world can signify things that may come in our lives.

To add, if animals can sense tsunamis, it is most probable that they can detect earthquakes as well. Along with trying to escape, many animals will show atypical behaviour in addition to signs of restlessness just before disaster strikes. For example, there are multiple documented accounts of animals carrying their offspring outside, dogs barking unusually, birds leaving their nests, and even chickens refusing to lay their eggs! This common strange behaviour between domestic, zoo, and farm animals demonstrate that these critters can feel something we cannot, such as an electrical change in the air or weaker P-waves emitted before a large quake. Contrary to skeptical American scientists, China has successfully used these strange animal behaviours to its advantage. To elaborate, in 1975, Chinese officials ordered the city of Haicheng evacuated after many reported occurrences of odd animal behaviour. Intriguingly, soon after, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook that exact city. Thanks to the animals, there were almost no fatalities out of the estimated 150 000 deaths that could have been. Ultimately, these weird animal behaviours should not be dismissed without consideration.

Finally, another example of natural foreseeing signs is the full moon. This phenomenon has always been known to wreak havoc everywhere. Consider the legend of the werewolf, for instance. Well, even though it is highly unlikely that a human would transform into a furry dog, the story must have came out of somewhere. Even today, many believe that a full moon can bring about chaos and out of the ordinary human behaviour. If you are in doubt, consider this: the moon’s gravitational pull is widely known to effect water on earth, as it creates tides day in and day out. Interestingly, during a full moon, the pull is exceptionally strong therefore creating a bigger effect on earth’s water. So, taking into account that our bodies are 70% water and our brains are the moistest organs in our bodies, there is a high chance that our minds can be disorientated by the full moon. My mum has witnessed this firsthand. To elaborate, when she was growing up, she had an elderly neighbour who on every full moon day would scream hysterically, for hours! Just like this example, there are many other reported cases of aberrant human behaviour caused by the full moon’s abnormally strong gravitational pull.

As you can see, there is enough evidence to prove that strange events in nature can predict things to come in our future. Take a look at the examples aforementioned: animals retreating or acting peculiar before a natural disaster, as well as full moons predicting crazy human behaviour. These instances of strange natural events pose reliable facts and numerous examples, which give us no reason not to believe them. Think about it- all of these incidents cannot just be a bunch of coincidences; there has to be at least some sort of connection. It’s time we open our minds and accept what can be an asset to our evolution. Why push these natural signs away, when we can learn and gather information from them? The proof is present; that strange events in the natural world can signify what is to come in our future. After all, Mother Nature is always one step ahead of us. 

Revised: "Power always corrupts the one who holds it."

Lord Acton once remarked, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” These famous words truly summarize the theme of tainted leadership that is continuously revisited throughout Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. And yet, it can also be applied to situations in both our historic and modern worlds. The word “power” is defined as “the ability to make choices and influence outcomes”, or, alternately, “the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires”. The French Revolution and the rule of Fidel Castro are both examples of circumstances where leaders came into power and drastically abused their authority. The movie Lord of the Rings also shows an excellent example of how easily the desire for power sways even the most genuine man, or hobbit. Power does always corrupt the one who holds it, and the result of this in the past has always been... absolutely devastating.

Before the French Revolution, European monarchs were all corrupt to a certain extent. They had everything in the land exactly how they wanted it, and couldn't care less about their common subjects. All the wealth they continuously gained just made them want more, and resulted in them being even more brutal to the innocent people of France. One of the most infamous rulers of France was Napoleon Bonaparte. This tiny man overpowered the weak French government and proclaimed himself to be “Emperor for life”. He manipulated countries at a time while simultaneously taking away many of the peoples’ rights after his rise to power. Even though he started off as a decent ruler, the legacy he ended up leaving behind was that of a power crazed dictator.

In addition, a more recent, but still historical example was Fidel Castro’s Communist dictatorship in Cuba. True, he had been initially born into the working class, and later managed to work his way up, but his yearn for power soon became too great. He led a revolution to overthrow the former Cuban government and set himself up as dictator. However, his new-found power led to him eventually restricting all freedom of speech in Cuba and coming down hard upon anyone who opposed him in order to maintain his power. For example, he arrested 75 human rights activists and journalists, and sent them to jail for an average of 20 years each! Ironically, even though he had grown up believing that the government was dishonest and vicious, he ended up becoming the very thing he had once opposed and despised – a cruel, corrupt dictator.

Finally, in the movie Lord of the Rings, many hobbits, elves, dwarfs, wizards, and men were influenced by the Ring. In the movie, the Ring represented ultimate power and control over Middle Earth. Gandalf was the first to reject the Ring because he did not want to be corrupted by it. This view on the nature of the Ring was enforced when Elrond, Galadriel, Aragorn and Faramir each turned down the Ring when it was offered to them. However, Frodo was chosen to bear the burden of carrying it because hobbits were the most innocent of creatures of the land. Unfortunately, the desire for the Ring eventually became so powerful that even Frodo ended up being corrupted at the end of his quest and had an extremely difficult time relinquishing his absolute power, paralleled in the movie to him throwing the Ring into Mount Doom.

These three points are all examples of how power has once swayed people to do corrupt things. Bonaparte and Castro both craved power so much that they overthrew the government and became dictators of their respective countries. They went to great lengths to keep that power, too, and maintained their positions by silencing their opposition. In the movie Lord of the Rings, many creatures of the land turned down the Ring (a metaphor for power) because they did not want to be influenced by its corrupt nature. Because of these reasons, I truly believe that power does always corrupt the one who holds it.

Power always corrupts the one who holds it

           “Power? It’s like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there” is what Harold Macmillan once quoted. There are many stories, events, movies, games, and novels based on Power, but first of all what is Power?
According to Oxford dictionaries, Power is the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way.

            Although power can be good thing it can also be a bad thing. The good is when the majority can agree with one’s power, but the bad is when one is intoxicated by one self’s power. One can be so intoxicated; they could lose the original goal or try to suppress unwanted opinions.

            First of all, a person does not just gain power just out of the random; he or she strives and struggles for it. Through all the efforts they make they slowly gain power to fulfill their goals and desires. But with the power gained, there is always an opposing force. The opposing force is envious, jealous, and does not agree. Losing power is not a good feeling especially when you put effort into gaining it, therefore the person will keep gaining power to suppress the opposing force. So they could keep their desire and goals in reach. Although a person has gained power he or she cannot proceed to gain more without another. Power is nothing if you don’t have people to support you or enemies that want to bring you down.

            Secondly, throughout history there was many Kings that ruled countries. The King’s influence was utterly powerful; it brought people together or their own downfall. For example Louis Riel once guillotined France’s king, Louis XVI and gained an enormous amount of power and influence through the commoners. Riel was able to rule France for a period of time with his ongoing influence, but as the influence and power grew the fear inside of him grew also. He started to enforce the laws and anyone who looked suspicious, wanted to end the stop Louis Riel’s ambition they were captured, or sentenced to death. This period was the Reign of Terror, and where it got its name was the many deaths during the period of time. Riel’s influence was still strong but it caused fear into the crowds and himself too.

            Lastly, with great power there is a responsibility. There were many deaths during the reign of terror, and Riel had to take responsibility. Why? Because he was the one who enforced the laws and had anybody suspicious dealt with. Although Riel was once loved by the people, his power was corrupted by his fear. The consequences had outweighed his power and influence, and eventually leading him to his own death.

            As a result, power does not just appear through the thin air. It is sought by all people of all kind. Either it is for ruling or to prove one’s self; it is struggled and strived for. In order to obtain power, you first must sought and struggle for it. In order to maintain you power, you must gain influence through another. Once you have fulfilled your desires and goals, there is no longer a dream you can run after for unless you keep looking ahead. There is only one thing you can have and it is the consequences one has neglected or avoided when striving for power. The consequences can be people being envious and jealous of your fulfilled dreams making one’s power corrupted and unwanted.

Power Always Corrupts the One Who Holds It

          Power. It can save a thousand lives and ruin a thousand lives in the blink of an eye. In a split second, the holder of that power can be corrupted, lost to the world and all of reality, when a person becomes drunk with power, they think they are in all ways invincible, untouchable, because they are on top. There are very few leaders that I can proudly look up to because of the fact that even the slightest way, power can truly corrupt all that hold it. Even the slightest position of authority can corrupt; teacher, manager at a fast food restaurant, even the leader in a group for a school project, everyone has the potential to get out of hand.

          Although there are some situations where I haven't seen power corrupt. President Obama has done a good job to protect and run the United States without treating some unfair. I look at my own father as a role model. He's the owner of his own company, he is a kind, understanding, and just leader of his company. His abilities to be fair have given him not only a successful company, but he is also the first chairman of the Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia. I'm proud to have someone who is such a great person when it comes to leading others as my Dad. However, not all are like this.

          Julius Caesar is a fantastic example of a corrupt leader. He became a dictator, yet with his charm, he found a way to still make Rome follow him. There have been too many leaders like this for me to count. Some more memorable names of corrupt leaders are people like Joseph Kony who is the leader of the Lord's Residence Army in Uganda, George W. Bush, the previous president of the United States, and of course, the one most probably know best, Kim Jong Un, the current dictating leader of South Korea. All of these people were given the opportunity to make something good, pure, and honest yet they used it to their own advantage instead.

          You can find corrupt leaders who have become drunk with power in any situation. I have a friend, lets call him Caesar, who was given a position of leadership and responsibility, at first it was great but then he started demanding more respect for the things he did. He demanded recognition and in my opinion became out of control. He treated people unfairly because he thought he could. Now I had another friend who I am going to call Brutus. Brutus despised how Caesar was acting, yet once Caesar's position was passed down to Brutus, he became just like Caesar but worse. He began to cause problems, decide on things that nobody else agreed with, but because he had the authority, he would make these things happen, but worst of all, he treated people he didn't like unfairly. This is the definition of a corrupt leader.

          Now although not every leader is going to become corrupt or drunk with power, most in history have in some way or another. Like my friends Caesar and Brutus for example, although they are not the real Caesar and Brutus I'm talking about, seeing as their level of corruptness is not nearly as deep as Julius Caesar's, they still found themselves corrupted. It can happen to anyone around you, it can even happen to you, one day you might find yourself offered a position of power, you can say all you want that it won't corrupt you, but it most likely will in some way or another. Power always corrupts the one who holds it, a simple saying that I believe sums up everything. Corruption and power are both apart of life, yet getting past corruption is apart of it all too.

"Power Always Corrupts Those Who Hold It"

            Power; the textbook definition of this word is “political or national strength”. Power of this type in moderation is quite useful and necessary to maintain a peaceful society. However, it is when leaders abuse this power that they become corrupt. They often start out with honest intentions but soon are blinded by the desire for more. May it be money, fame, or more power, personal gain soon becomes the center of these leaders’ lives. Power is addicting, therefore it is inevitable that power always corrupts the ones who hold it. Evidence is in favour of this statement, considering the three corrupt political leaders that will be discussed throughout this essay.

            To start, during the 1930s, Germany was in deep debt. In return, the people were willing to give up democracy for financial relief. Little did they know that their nation would soon be dictated for over a decade by a single-minded tyrant, Adolph Hitler. Hitler took advantage of Germany’s money troubles, and to be honest, he did improve the economy. Once he gained popularity, he promoted himself through propaganda as he realized he could do almost anything. At this time, he became so greedy to dominate the world that he used force to keep his power. He had too much influence in his hands, and soon became corrupt. Hitler killed a number of innocent victims, many only because he had the authority to. Ultimately, Hitler started out with the goal of ameliorating Germany’s financial situation, but soon he advanced in attempt to conquer the world, for his own benefit. Greed is what brought this man to corruption, as it did to many other political leaders.

            During the 70s, after working in many political occupations, Saddam Hussein came to power as President of Iraq. This politician was corrupt from the start. To elaborate, Hussein pressured the previous Prime Minister Bakr to resign in order for Hussein to succeed into Bakr’s position. To add, he immediately had his oppression systematically killed and he enlarged his security forces. Furthermore, Hussein employed relatives and trusted friends in higher positions to keep the power in his own hands. Incredibly, over 50% of the Iraqis were hired by the government, military, or had a relative who was. These occupations were controlled by Hussein, meaning he had an enormous amount of power and influence in Iraq. Hussein was so fanatical that he murdered thousands of his citizens. He didn’t care for his country; he only strived for personal profit.

            Lastly, another example of corrupt leaders is President George W. Bush. He was elected with promises of bettering health care, resolving environmental issues, improving welfare, and reducing America’s debt. However, after two significant events, he proved to be no better than Hitler or Hussein. To illustrate, in September 2001, there were devastating attacks on multiple sites in USA by the Al Qaeda. Instead of dealing with these attacks in a smart way, Bush raised fear and brought on an unjust, unnecessary war. The majority of his reasons to fight were for his government’s own benefit, and many consider this to be a “war of choice”. As an example, the war was seen by Bush as an opportunity to secure Iraqi oil. This was one of quite a few motives behind Bush’s decision. As if this weren’t enough, Bush demonstrated his government’s corruption again in 2005, during the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. Many criticized the government’s delayed lacking response. For instance, President Bush was on vacation when disaster struck, and didn’t return to Washington until two days later. Along with other complaints about his response, Bush didn’t handle this emergency well overall. Bush’s incapability to take action successfully to these two incidents was a result, with no doubt, of too much power leading to corruption.

            These three great political leaders are perfect examples of power leading to corruption. These people may have started out with good intentions, but soon were conquered by greed. Hitler strived to create the “perfect” society, Hussein wanted to control the entire country of Iraq, and Bush was searching for opportunities to make America the most influential nation of all. No matter what, all of these politicians were seeking no more than personal gain. Like the Lion King’s uncle Scar, these politicians’ downfalls were their own greed, fear of losing power, and jealousy. To conclude, it is evident that power always corrupts those who hold it; it is inevitable.

Sources:

"Adolf Hitler." Adolph Hitler. American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html>.

"George H. W. Bush." The White House. Www.whitehouse.gov, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgehwbush>.

The Editors of, Encyclopedia Britannica. "Saddam Hussein (president of Iraq)."Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/277539/Saddam-Hussein>.

"Power always corrupts the one who holds it."

Lord Acton once remarked, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” This famous quote, in my opinion, truly summarizes one theme that is continuously revisited throughout Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. And yet, it can also be applied with situations in both our historic and modern worlds. The word “power” is defined as “the ability to make choices and influence outcomes”, or, on the flip side, “the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires”. The French Revolution and the rule of Fidel Castro are both examples of circumstances where leaders came into power and drastically misused their authority. The movie Lord of the Rings also showed an excellent example of how easily the desire for power sways even the most genuine man (or hobbit). Power does always corrupt the one who holds it, and the result of this in the past has always been... absolutely devastating.

In Socials 9, I learned about the French Revolution, and all the various families who had ruled France unchallenged for hundreds of years. Before the French Revolution, most European monarchs were corrupt to a certain extent. They had everything in the land exactly how they wanted it, and couldn't care less about their common subjects. All the wealth they continuously gained just made them want more, and resulted in them being even more brutal to the innocent people of France. One of the most infamous rulers of France was Napoleon Bonaparte. This tiny man overpowered the weak French government and proclaimed himself to be “Emperor for life”. He manipulated countries at a time while simultaneously taking away many of the peoples’ rights after his rise to power. Even though he started off as a decent ruler, the legacy he ended up leaving behind was that of a power crazed dictator.

A more recent, but still historical example was Fidel Castro’s Communist dictatorship in Cuba. True, he had been initially born into the working class, and later managed to work his way up, but his yearn for power soon became too great. He led a revolution to overthrow the former Cuban government and set himself up as dictator. However, his new-found power led to him eventually restricting all freedom of speech in Cuba and coming down hard upon anyone who opposed him in order to maintain his power. Even though he had grown up believing that the government was dishonest and vicious, he ended up becoming the very thing he had once opposed and despised – a cruel, corrupt dictator.

Finally - in the movie Lord of the Rings, many hobbits, elves, dwarfs, wizards, and men were influenced by the Ring. Gandalf was the first to reject the Ring because he did not want to be corrupted by it. This view on the nature of the Ring was enforced when Elrond, Galadriel, Aragorn and Faramir each turned down the Ring when it was offered to them. The Ring represented ultimate power and control over Middle Earth in the movie, and Frodo was chosen to bear the burden of carrying it because hobbits were the most innocent of creatures of the land. However, the desire for the Ring was so powerful that even Frodo ended up being corrupted at the end of his quest and had an extremely difficult time relinquishing his absolute power (throwing the Ring into Mount Doom). The movie also showed how changes/shifts in power and authority could often prove to be very difficult for both parties (Gollum taking the Ring from Frodo, Sam taking the Ring from Frodo, etc.)

These three points are all examples of how power has swayed people to do corrupt things. Napoleon and Castro both craved power so much that they overthrew the government and became dictators of their respective countries. They went to great lengths to keep that power, too, and maintained their positions by silencing their opposition. In LotR, many creatures of the land turned down the Ring (a metaphor for power) because they did not want to be influenced by its corrupt nature. Because of these reasons, I truly believe that power does always corrupt the one who holds it.

Power always corrupts the one who holds it.

The definition of control is defined as the power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events, but why does it have to corrupt the one who has it.
In our world there are few people that have power and usually the ones who do always end up either not liked or corrupted by all that they have. There are many reasons to why people have power but what are the reasons that they get corrupted by it?

One reason that someone could get corrupted is if they gain power and use it to help others, they could realize that they could use it for personal gain as well. For example, the person who holds the power might finds ways to help others with it and that could start off being good. However, if they realize that they are able to achieve lots with power they could eventually end up using it for personal reasons. Once they start using it for personal reason they could continue and continue and never stop and then end up getting corrupted.

Another reason might be that they lose touch of there humanity. Once they have all there power they will do anything to keep it. For example, when someone gets the power they could kill someone just to maintain the power. The person could care less about everything else and only the power. They would risk losing their friends, family, and even themselves just to make sure the power stays with them and they will never loose it.

Even though power may seem like a great asset to have, put in the wrong hands, it can easily become negative. At first they will use it as honest men but as the time goes on they will realize how much power over people they have and start using it towards their own benefit. Over time the person won't want to lose the power and will do whatever it takes to keep it and in conclusion, they will become corrupted. 

Does Power Always Corrupt the One Who Holds It?

Chelsey Schmitt                     Does Power Always Corrupts the One                    April 16, 2013       

       Who Holds It?

 

 

            “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  This is a quote from John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. Is what John is saying true? Does power always corrupt? These are the questions I’ll be trying to answer.

              Absolute power is being able to do anything you want without question. This can be dangerous to a person and others involved with them. With saying that, there are also some upsides that come along with power. There are two kinds of power – personalized power and socialized power. One is clearly the good kind and the other is clearly the bad kind. I will explain how each of these powers work and their effects.

 The first kind of power is personalized power which is the negative kind. This is the kind of power that people use for personal gain, usually at the expense of others. These kinds of people get away with using power for personal reasons because their “followers” tend to believe what they are doing is okay because that person is in power for a reason. When you are in the presence of a leader using personalized power, understand that if you think what is happening is wrong, you should take a stand and do something about it.

 A common reason people want power for selfish reasons is simply just to have power. They just want power to have it and have no intentions of using it to benefit others. For these people, power can be like a drug. Once these types of people have a taste of power, they want more and then can’t stop, like it’s an addiction. They might then be into their “power trip” so deep that they can’t stop and even start to believe there is nothing wrong in what they are doing. An example of someone who has been corrupted with power is a store manager that treats employees below them poorly because he feels that he is superior to them, or takes credit for the work that his employees do.  When people use power for personal reasons, they are almost definitely going to be corrupted and I think people who use personalized power should not have the privilege of power.

 On the other hand, there is a kind of power that is used positively. This kind of power is called socialized power. Socialized power is when someone uses their position of power to benefit others. They usually use their power effectively to get the job done. They have the best interests of others in mind and are not just in it for themselves. These kinds of people have not been corrupted by power. They are smart, possess good moral values and are strong enough to hold their ground and not let power take them over. The fact that there are people out there that are using their power for the good of others makes me believe that power doesn’t always corrupt.

 In our society, there are many positions of power, such as the Prime Minister, school principals and presidents of businesses. Positions of power are important in our society to maintain control and provide direction. We must be careful in picking and monitoring our leaders to ensure they are using socialized power and not personalized power.

 In this essay I have shown both kinds of power, good and bad. I have made points that, yes, power can corrupt the one who holds it, but not necessarily all the time. Power can be extremely dangerous but it is also an important part of our society. Power can lead to chaos and problems but, without it, there would be no control or order in the world. It is all our jobs to make sure we don’t let power get into the wrong hands. Power is powerful and we always need to be aware of and be careful with it.

 

Power always corrupts the one who holds it.

"Power always corrupts the one who holds it.


    I spotted this quote on the English blog, and it really got me thinking. Does power always corrupt those who are in possession of it? In today's society, a lot of people are hungry for something - whether it be good looks, popularity, material items, but most commonly, people want money and power. Many people believe that if you are in possession of these things, that simply makes you a better person. But does it? In my opinion, the physical things you possess in life do not make you who you really are. However, if one person, who does possess these things, lets pride get to his or her head, it actually might define who they really are as a person. Such people can be cocky, snotty, and generally believe they are better than everyone else. People have written songs just about having lots of money and girls. Generally, what these musical artists imply in their songs, is that they are so great, just because they have "stacks in da house".

  Why do people sing about this? Why do people tweet about this? Why do people, all around the world, talk about this? Everywhere, there are people who think they are better. But why do they think like this? Because they believe they have power. Power, the thing so many of us crave. Power has the ability to make us feel excellent, high, mighty, and overall, can be a great confidence boost. Which is why so many people go seeking for it. However, power isn't always a great thing to have. Sure, it makes you feel great, but sometimes the people around you can be affected negatively. A great example of such a person is a bully. Bullies believe they have so much power over so many people. A bully likes to tease, taunt, and beat on people who he feels are lower than him. Once he does so, he feels great, and he gains from it personally. He sees a person being hurt under the influence of the actions that were of his doing, and that makes him feel stronger. So is the case with many other people, including people on the Internet, bashing others for their differences or beliefs.

    Now, all of you may be thinking that power is such a horrible thing, but believe it or not, there are actually people out there, who use it for other things. That is, good things. For example, someone who is more powerful than a bully, such as an adult, authorities, or even just another peer, can use their power over the bully, to stop him from doing or saying nasty things to others. Someone who has lots of power, may also have lots of money. Some may use it to buy expensive sports cars, but others may use it to do good. For example, Bill Gates, the 2nd richest man in the world, donated approximately $10,000,000,000 (10 billion) to develop and distribute vaccines. So you see, though Mr. Gates has power, he donated a large amount of his fortune to help others. How generous!

   So, does power always corrupt the one who holds it? I think not. Though there are a lot of greedy people out there whose main goal is to be first and are constantly trying to scratch up their way to the top, there are a lot of powerful people who do good with the power they have. Do keep in mind, this is my own personal opinion. Others may have opinions that vary from mine when it comes to topics such as this, so please keep this in consideration. To end off, here is a quote...

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
~Abraham Lincoln

You can’t have power without making dangerous enemies

Many people in today’s society such as students have a person or thing that they would want to compete with. Whether it is having an equal footing with another or to surpass another, both are constantly competing for the top spot.  

From the very beginning of time, living organisms were already competing for food sources, territory, and survival chances, whether we knew it or not. As time gradually went on, the human species were also evolving. During the Stone Age humans consistently hunted for food. There were many animals that were dangerous to man but we created tools like the spear to hunt. We were able to create simple tools from rocks and sticks of wood to scare, and hunt the dangerous animals around us. The more dangerous the animal was, the more tools and skills we learnt to protect ourselves. When you look into more of the history; you can see the pattern of  many countries fighting to protect and claim territory from each other. For example, war between Britain and France over our country, Canada. Both countries have been enemies for many years, and both knew the exactly how powerful each other were. Yet they constantly sent troops to war to battle each other. Both countries constantly had struggles for power. Due to the fact both countries were powerful, both would plan, and develop more advance tools to defeat each other. Though Britain does win the war in Canada, Britain had lost the war in Europe. Thus proving it was not a complete victory.

Nowadays there are still wars but not as much for territory, but the rights of humans. There are many wars in countries around the world that fight to overthrow or change their government system. According to dictionary.com the definition of government is "the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration." The government is supposing to govern the people through hearing the people’s requests. When the government has the power to mend their authorities and neglect the citizen’s wishes, it causes the citizens to attempt to overthrow their government for their better futures. Even though people understand the fact, changing the country is a very hard task, they still get together to put their opinions and thoughts together to attempt to change their government.

Therefore, having a more dangerous and powerful enemy can cause whom or whatever to strive to gain more power. Without an opposing force that is stronger than you, it is much like moving on in life without a goal. Hence it is much harder to continue to strive for more power or change.