<p>"Can success be disastrous?"</p>
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<p>As with everything in the universe, success thrives on the fundamental notion of balance. It lies on a delicate see-saw, reminding us that disastrous consequences can accompany great achievements. The scales of compromise dictate that this see-saw will not always tip in our favor. We might just wish that we had never achieved our "success" after seeing the other side of the story.</p>
<p>The invention of the automobile was hailed as the ultimate achievement that would revolutionize transportation but at a hefty cost. Cars not only emit carcinogenic toxins but also cause deadly accidents that kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people annually. While manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda reap lucrative profits, civilians in Beijing have to wear masks because of unsafe pollution levels. In this case, the see-saw of success may have increased profits, created jobs, and streamlined commutes, but all at the cost of our well-being. Not even a clairvoyant could foresee the unexpected consequences as a result of motor vehicles, but now some people are trying to undo the damage. They decry the use of cars and instead prefer alternative means of travel, such as bicycles and walking. They push for "greener" technology, but as long as manufacturers are successful, manufacturers will have no incentive for change. We had wished for a way to expedite our commutes, and we were answered with a monstrosity with the capacity to melt glaciers and cause cancer.</p>
<p>The film, The Lorax, also corroborates the pitfalls of success. The Once-ler, an optimistic innovator, finds an immediate demand from the public for his invention, the "Thneed." Reliant on the thread-like leaves of Truffula trees for manufacturing more "Thneeds," he completely deforests valleys, rendering them inhabitable to local wildlife. While the Once-ler, now a billionaire, revels in his newfound wealth, going as far as constructing his own city, the animals of the forest are devastated and forced to migrate. When he tears down the wall between his utopia and the outside world, he sees that his factories for producing "Thneeds" have consumed every last tree in existence and have blackened the sky with smokey byproducts. Blinded by his own drive for success, he inflicted chaos on nature. Finally realizing the errors of his ways and the havoc of his vision, the Once-ler shuts down his operation and exiles himself but fails to undo the damage.</p>
<p>Success is not without his downfalls. We must realize that there are no one-way streets in life where we can cruise smoothly towards our goals because the world is like a rubber band; every action has a reaction, and, consequently, everything positive has a negative element to maintain balance. Sometimes, these negative elements are more prominent and nullify all our achievements. In these cases, success is a "knife of sugar"; it tastes sweet but cuts deeply nonetheless.</p>
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<p>All feedback is appreciated!</p>