American Change

I wrote this when I was in 11th grade, so probably about 2-20-08. It was suppose to be a persuasion paper, trying to convince people to do something, I think.

This is for those who want to be heard; for those who are in a constant struggle. A struggle to fit in, to feel wanted, and for some a struggle for their very life in which they live. A change is much needed, for the protection of the American people. To make for a happier and safer society in which we all should want to live. This may sound stupid or impossible to some, but all things are possible for those who try. It is possible for people to change the way they treat each other.

Why would any decent human being want to watch someone, let alone anyone suffer? Some may not think so, but there are so many people out there suffering. You can see them walking the halls in school or in the shopping mall. Walking with their heads down, they have such pain and despair in their drained eyes. There drained eyes that were once filled with joy and excitement, and a strong passion for life! Whether anyone chooses to acknowledge it or not there are people out there who are in pain.

Why should the suffering of someone else affect me some may ask? The answer to that question is easy, people are already scared when they are placed into new situations; it’s just the way of human life. When people add to their fear by making fun of them they feel even worse on the inside. Getting teased for the things they wear, or the way they walk, makes them feel horrible about themselves. They even get teased over the way they talk, look, or how they act. This causes fear to well up inside of them. With their fear of what people think, they are scared to go places. They let it bother them so much that they forget to be themselves. They try to change who they are to please others, and after a while who they are, is completely forgotten. Some may stop taking care of themselves so they get teased again and it just keeps going. It is like a never-ending cycle of pain. Nobody ever bothers to stop the cycle and think about why that person acts or looks that way.

How do people getting teased cause anyone pain? The answer to that is it embarrasses them, makes them feel bad. It hits them in their ego, and lowers their self-esteem. Just because they are different, people make fun of them. It puts heaviness on their heart, and a pain deep inside their chest. It makes them scarred to act like themselves. If people tease them over the way they dress or walk, what would stop them from making fun of there true emotions and their true self? They have to put on this fake mask to hide their pain. A mask that was designed to help them fit in, eventually make them forget who they are, and cause more destruction than good. This mask doesn’t stop them from beating themselves up on the inside; it only prevents help with identifying their troubling thoughts and feelings.

Why do they laugh when they get teased then? People don’t just laugh because they think something is funny. People laugh because they are embarrassed, or to mask their true feelings. Some may laugh to help them ignore what is said about them. Others laugh to avoid feeling weak in front of their friends. There many reasons why one may laugh but it is not always because something is funny.

Some may think that it isn’t bothering anyone, but they are wrong. It doesn’t just bother the person being teased, but it also affects some of the people that observe this being done. It hurts them to see the people, who are in so much pain, walking around with nobody but themselves and the negative thoughts with them. Some people have to endure the backlash created when the person who bottled up there feelings finally lets them come out in a burst of rage. It doesn’t just hurt the person who was teased or harassed, but it hurts innocent bystanders who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It should hurt to see all the pain and anguish in the people of today.

Why do we need to change anything some may ask? We need to change for a better tomorrow. Change so we can say that we are free - free from the torment that so many suffer from. The torment that they endure only sends them a message about how much of a mistake or how worthless they are. Eventually it breeds more pain because the person feels so horrible about themselves that they tease other people to make themselves feel better. We need change so that we can say we are proud to be an American and actually mean it. So we can be happy about each day that we live our life within this country.

This is for those who want to be heard. Wake up America we need this change. People are in pain and hurting whether you like to acknowledge it or not. Do something to change it, to change the stress and hatefulness of today and make it a happier and brighter tomorrow. Some may say that this was pointless or hopeless, but I have hope - hope for the future. Things are not always what they seem, reach out to those who are in pain, and accept people for who they are. Listen to people and you never know what you might learn. Make us proud - proud to be an American.

Reviews

[Eric Darsie]

Awesome read Jeremia!