Knowledge and Individual Power

 

Knowledge and Individual Power

People learn knowledge in different environments. The amount of education each

gains is determined by how much individual power they have for life. Many people have never

tried to find the internet sea of knowledge, because they are more interested in watching

television talk shows or sports all the time. However, many people have upgraded their life

through the internet for their study, businesses, and other purposes. This can save time

and is cheaper than any other.

Everyone should continue to seek knowledge, for it will greatly improve society. The

more people are educated the better our society becomes. When the majority of people know and

understand the laws they can create more crime free neighborhoods. Less crime enables people

to enjoy walking freely down the street, because this gives each individual more power.

Some might turn to crime for survival without the knowledge to succeed in school and

society. Individual power can be made by using violence instead of the brain to educate

themselves. Intimidation tactics are used on intelligent higher income people by such criminals;

ultimately, they lack the knowledge to make a life using their brain. It is lack of education that

leads to the downfall of neighborhoods and society at large. Therefore, it is important that the

youth of society complete a well balanced education filled with knowledge, for the future of

themselves and the county.

The poem, "Theme for English B" is unique; the most Americans imply that colored

people are less educated, and they assume they have less knowledge for life, education, and

attitude. The writer describes that he is colored near the beginning of the poem. His individual

power was seen in the poem as it was read. He described the things everyone longs, such as, "I

like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life." These

sentences shown maturity in the young man.

Also, how he was similar with those of other races. He continued comparing himself with

the instructor that was white. They were both Americans and connected through the English

course. Nonetheless, he hined towards the racism of America saying, "Sometimes perhaps you

don't want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you." The writer shown his

intelligence by writing, "as they learned from each other although the instructor was older." The

assumption that white people were "somewhat more free" was an individual power of voice

through a knowledge filled poem. (Hughes)

I had no choice but to educate myself when I was younger. My education was out of my

control as a young child. I had tried to learn, but my home lifestyle did not contain the correct

ingredients. I have continued to pursue my education on my own now that I am older. However,

I enjoy reading educational books, surfing the internet sea of knowledge, such as, they improve

and always upgrade me.

Instead of that, I spent many hours watching television, playing games, and exploring the

outdoors when I was younger. Though being older now, I spend most of the time conducting

research on the internet for my study materials and surveys. Television has lost its appeal to me,

for its purpose today seems to be commercialism. The same TV shows can be watched by the

internet with much less commercials.

If a person reads many books, it would be easy to assume they gain knowledge from

reading. In "Superman and Me" the author Sherman Alexie explained how his learning to read at

a younger age enabled him to become a writer and teacher today. He would read and study while

the other children were against learning from outsiders, and those who were not Indian. Sherman

was determined to become a smart Indian by going against the norm. Classmates would struggle

with kindergarten books while he was reading much more advanced books. He wrote, "I fought

with my classmates on a daily basis." Still, he refused to fail and remained arrogant. His drive

kept him up late in the evenings reading until his eyes could stay open no more. (Alexie)

We are taught to wear clothes at a young age. Fashion is an individual power that people

gain as they grow older. The knowledge that men and women fashions are different is universal.

If a person wears the other sexes fashion, they will be viewed as strange or odd, unless it is

within a musical play or art. It takes individual power to knowingly wear the other sexes fashion

in public.

For example, in the poem "Crazy Courage" Michael contains an implied knowledge

and individual power. It is obvious that he is aware the people around him will frown upon his

actions. Anyone can imagine the thoughts others would have of a man dressed like a woman.

Yet, with all this knowledge he had the individual power to stand in front of them and give a

reading. It is most definitely courageous to conduct such an act knowing that he may be punished

for it. (Villanueva)

Knowledge and individual power are closely connected in the way that people conduct

themselves with what they learn. Consequently, the amount of knowledge a person gains

determines the amount of individual power they have to make choices.

Works Cited

James, M. & Merickel, A. P. (2011). Reading Literature and Writing Argument, 4th Edition.

Hughes, L. Theme for English B, pp. 585-586

Alexie, S. Superman and Me, pp. 208-210

Villanueva, A. L. Crazy Courage, pp. 195-196

New York, NY, Pearson Education Inc.