<p>QUESTION: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?</p>
<p>MY ESSAY:</p>
<pre><code>Because I am in power, you must obey my every command. No questions asked. This is a scenario that is exhibited quite frequently in both modern day applications of society and instances of the past. We place in individual or group of individuals on a pedestal in order to allow society to become more organized and harmonious. We have placed that power into their hands. However, the decision these authoritative figures fabricate is not always deemed to be right. It is in these instances, that the people must stand up and question these ideas and actions. I believe it is essential to question the ideas and decisions of individuals placed in positions of authority, because not every decision is a morally right, and often these ideas lead to greater catastrophe.
A great catastrophe indeed. World War II. The Holocaust. Two major events that can never be erased from history. A man by the name of Adolf Hitler rose to power just before these two events occurred. Joining the Nazi Party, he gained the trust of his German people by pulling the country out of the deflating spiral of their economy. Hitler as a result, was placed in a position of power. A position that soon evolved into a menacing dictatorship. Hitler had ideas. Extreme ideas. He began to call for the mass annihilation of the Jewish people - piling them into concentration camps by the hundreds and killing them mercilessly. Did it not occur to the German people who praised their leader gloriously, to question his extreme actions and ideas? As he began to invade into Poland initially and then into various other countries, did it not occur to them then to stop him? Hitler failed to be questioned publicly, and if he was, nothing could have been done - he had already achieved too much power. The people should have stopped him and paused to question his ideas before it ballooned into the extreme chaos that it came to be. Perhaps as individuals we are quieted down by fear and other forms of public disgrace and shame, but if questions are raised, such catastrophes can be prevented.
Another prime example is within the novel, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". In this novel, the main character, Huck, lives in a society run by extreme hypocrisy and deceit. This becomes extremely evident as he befriends Jim, a runaway slave. As the two become friends,something society reprimands with great ferocity, and face various adventures together, these twisted ideals of society became increasingly apparent. It is at this point that Huck begins to question if whether or not society - who has the authoritative role in the novel - is correct in placed the ideas and morals that it has. As his adventures continue with Jim, and he sees people lying to one another in order to steal money and people who own slaves condemning the practice of slavery, Huck realizes society is wrong and leaves - unable to withstand the hypocritical and deceitful ideas society has forced his and others to accept.
In conclusion, it is important for questions to be raised. Not every idea presented by someone in power is ultimately correct, and by quietly and passively accepting them, greater issues come to play. It is thus essential, as a group of people to question to individuals we place in power.
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