Why don't we complain?

It is perhaps difficult, or complicated to fully explain the reasons why I have chosen this; But if I had to put it into a few words, it would be, that this story gives us an important outlook on the degeneration of character in our society. If we look back into the history of the American people, we would see a history where patriots stood up in the name of liberty, freedom, and the persuit of happiness, even if standing up meant death. While the events, and circumstances in this essay are not quite as extensive as to say, the repercussions were death, it's a good observation on how many small, seemingly insignificant acts, can lead up to a great whole significant harbinger of our slowly crumbling society.

We can note here that the writer is clearly distressed by what is happening to our people; Indeed, any man with any sense would be distressed. We cannot simply ignore the way people are being coaxed into a state of silence, a state where mishaps are ignored, wrongs and faults are dismissed without a single fuss. In the very first example, the overheated train, we observe a very important truth; If one does not speak against his situation, if one does not move against the stride, then nothing will ever happen. The inertia that moves our society toward moral and character evolution will be broken down by opposing forces, and when the single person of a society fails to grow, then society crumbles.

It was such a simple thing, to simply tell the conductor, "It's too hot in here, is it at all possible to please lower the thermostat?" It would not have caused any real trouble, just the simple yet all significant monotonous task of turning a dial down. Would it have vexed a man who is paid to maximize the comfort of his patrons, to simply turn a dial? But people want to avoid confrontations at all cost, now constantly living in fear of repercussions. A good movie that further explained this point, was Fight Club, in whom, the members of this fight club were given a homework to fight and to lose. However, as the movie astutely observed, the common man will try to avoid conflict at all costs.

In a society where the common man fails to speak up for his plight, where people avert their eyes from trouble because of fear of repercussion, a single man loses his value as a person, and the masses lose their voice. When that voice is lost, as the essay says, we will cease to be people, but automotons, only capable of following the tasks set before us. I believe this essay gives an important overview of what could happen when we fail to speak up; We can't live in comformity to our troubles if we can do something about it.

But this reflection, is empty in action. Because no matter how one reflects, in the end, we are doomed to follow the path set before the masses; The masses will continue to remain silent, and perhaps, one in every few will speak, but the rest will silence him. Eventually, our voice will be gone, and our society will crumble. We have already betrayed many of the cornerstrones our forefathers set before us, it is only a matter of time before everything else crumbles.

In the end, one must wonder...

What will we be left with?