Long Distance Runner Argument Essay

The decision to protest is a daunting one. It’s easy to chalk up the lack of involvement to the fear of what could happen when you submit yourself to the world of public objection. It takes a strong mind and a profound calling to partake in a protest. Personally, the decision not to protest has always bothered me more than the decision to stand up. I have passed opportunities to express dissent for something that I felt strongly about due to the possible negative social, emotional, economic, and often physical results of a protest. In The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Smith faced all of the negative consequences for standing up for what he felt was right, but at the end of it all he felt like the sacrifice was worth it. After Smith had been put in the boarding school, he had been identified as a special talent, and the Governor wanted to exploit that gift for the prestige of the school. Running was something Smith could always rely on to clear his head, and having it objectified and exploited for the benefit of people who were essentially holding him captive didn’t sit well. The Governor said …show more content…
These internal conflicts, feelings of right and wrong, and the sense of justice are often subdued and kept quite within us. As an individual it is our right and responsibility to stand up for what we believe in. It is commonly the things that we don’t do that cause us grief and guilt. It is important to overlook and move past the initial fear of judgement and scrutiny and move on into a more active and powerful state. In The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Smith discovers that the price to be paid was worth it, and he learned more about himself and grew in confidence with the things that he can do. An individual protest isn’t so much about reforming and changing something, they’re about self fulfillment, self-improvement and acting upon an impulse that turns into