Whose got #thatPOWER

                On Friday I was asked a question by my 11 AP English teacher asked, "How much power does an individual wield?" I got to thinking and I came to the realization that every individual holds the power to change himself. He can change his situation, his status in society, and his abilities, but that is it. Though we like to believe otherwise, man does not hold the ability to change others. Man can inspire a change in others, but one individual can't physically change another (unless you're a tattoo artist). The changes that one decides to make in his life are a result of desires that person has within himself; these ideas are demonstrated in The Glass Castle, a bestselling memoir by Jeanette Walls.

                In The Glass Castle Jeanette, Laurie, and Brian all transform their lives through their own doing. All of the kids leave their family to care for themselves, though the kids stay together and support one another on their journeys, they each get to the final destinations by their own power. In doing so each child demonstrates the individual most definitely possesses the power to change his own situation and social status. But, even as each child gained success their parents were still living on the streets of New York City. When Jeanette asks her mother if she can help, she is shut down by her mother who states, "Your father and I are who we are. We accept it." (Walls 5). Despite their efforts the kids can't get their parents to change way of life because Rex and Rosemary don't WANT to be changed, the kids' success couldn't motivate them either because Rex and Rosemary do not desire to change.
              The power of an individual can also be extended to entire nations. America can be viewed as an individual in the case of the Vietnam War. America was created so that people could change their form of government; thus using their own power to change their situation. Founding fathers used theirYet, when it came to the case of the Vietnam War America could not be successful in changing the Vietnamese government. Mainly because Vietnam was not willing to change. Their own individual power was so strong that they were willing to go to any length to stand their ground; mainly by the means of guerilla warfare. Despite the fact that America was a stronger nation, our power was not of any use because Vietnam was so unwilling to change. We could not inspire a change in Vietnam because no desire to change was within them.