“The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain,” Colin Wilson makes many interesting evaluation of the common man. He says they are conformist, meaning they conform to fit what is easiest, most comfortable, what most people are doing. He goes on to say that the average man accepts miseries and disaster, comparing them to cows, standing in the rain. This paints the image that Americans accept miseries and disasters with the attitude of a cow in the rain, powerless to change their conditions. Colin has a valid argument; many people accept their situation without thought of doing anything to change their circumstances. However, I disagree with Colin’s quote for several reasons.
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In order to evaluate these examples we must first define the miseries and disasters that face the average man. These include natural disasters like tornados, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, fires, mud slides, and droughts. It also includes poverty, war, tyranny, racism, discrimination, and war. We may also include domestic violence, divorce, death, suicide, depression, addiction, and loneliness. While Colin was correct in assessment that some people are defeated by these miseries and disasters, he was incorrect in his assumption the majority of people are affected this way. I believe it is human nature to rise from the ashes, to recover, to press forward, and to overcome. Albert Camus proclaims, “In the Depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” This quote shows a glimpse of the inner strength that lives in every man. Examples arise throughout all aspects of life and …show more content…
Numerous average men seek for more than just a betterment of their own lives, they seek to better the lives of those around them. Every corner you turn there is a man reaching down and picking up another man. While some may argue that they’re an equal amount of people bringing about disaster and misery, there are enough people bettering our world to prove Colin wrong. Some examples of this are Red Cross, Peace Core, and good Samaritans. The cross is an amazing organization that sends people to better lives of other people. They provide aid to people affected by natural disaster. The Red Cross is made up of people trying to better the lives of others in miserable situations. Another organization like this is the Peace Core. They provide humanitarian aid for people in third world countries; they also provide education so they can better their own lives. The imagery Colin creates in his quote is destroyed and replaced with the imagery of men picking up other men out of the kindness of their hearts. Throughout my life I have met a number of men like this, good Samaritans. They have touched my life several times and many of times they have changed the good from bad. I have seen people go out of their way to make lives better for other people when they could have stood and watched them stand in the
In order to evaluate these examples we must first define the miseries and disasters that face the average man. These include natural disasters like tornados, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, fires, mud slides, and droughts. It also includes poverty, war, tyranny, racism, discrimination, and war. We may also include domestic violence, divorce, death, suicide, depression, addiction, and loneliness. While Colin was correct in assessment that some people are defeated by these miseries and disasters, he was incorrect in his assumption the majority of people are affected this way. I believe it is human nature to rise from the ashes, to recover, to press forward, and to overcome. Albert Camus proclaims, “In the Depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” This quote shows a glimpse of the inner strength that lives in every man. Examples arise throughout all aspects of life and …show more content…
Numerous average men seek for more than just a betterment of their own lives, they seek to better the lives of those around them. Every corner you turn there is a man reaching down and picking up another man. While some may argue that they’re an equal amount of people bringing about disaster and misery, there are enough people bettering our world to prove Colin wrong. Some examples of this are Red Cross, Peace Core, and good Samaritans. The cross is an amazing organization that sends people to better lives of other people. They provide aid to people affected by natural disaster. The Red Cross is made up of people trying to better the lives of others in miserable situations. Another organization like this is the Peace Core. They provide humanitarian aid for people in third world countries; they also provide education so they can better their own lives. The imagery Colin creates in his quote is destroyed and replaced with the imagery of men picking up other men out of the kindness of their hearts. Throughout my life I have met a number of men like this, good Samaritans. They have touched my life several times and many of times they have changed the good from bad. I have seen people go out of their way to make lives better for other people when they could have stood and watched them stand in the