<p>Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?</p>
<p>While a degree of authority over any group of people proves critical to success, abuse of authority often takes place. The need to challenge authority is validated when one perceives an abuse in power. Seen often through literature, world history, and even through everyday life, the notion of challenging authority manifests itself as an idea crucial to mankind.</p>
<p>William Golding's Lord of the Flies presents the perfect example of the need for authority. THe plot entails a large group of children who crash land on an island and are forced to fend for themselves, who must build homes and develop a temporary community in order to survive. The children elect Ralph, a dominant boy of their tribe as leader, but eventually turn to Jack due to little progress. With Jack as leader, the boys avert to savagery as they dress up in uncivilized costumes, burn down the forest, and hunt down all the animals on the island. Jack's uncontrolled regime symbolizes the epitome of an abusive government, and demonstrates a prime example of the need to challenge authority. In addition to literature, history also presents another aspect to consider when judging an authority.</p>
<p>In the late eighteenth century when America was simply a non unified motley of thirteen small states, Great Britain usurped control over the colonies and demanded obedience to the several taxes and laws placed on New England. As the colonists resisted, the British responded with more and more taxes on tea, paper, stamps, and everyday utilities. This in turn led to the Revolutionary War where the Americans fought for their right to freedom and independence from oppression. The Americans fought to preserve human liberties and proved to the world that not all authorities have complete power. Respect for authority may be important degree, but should not be enacted if it at all comes close to the degree of the Americans during the American Revolution.</p>
<p>History and literature alike have seen oppressive governments attempt to take control over life. more often than not, these governments have been changed and transformed, as with British control over America in addition to Jack's control over the boys on the island. While respecting an authority can be justified, obsequious adherence to an abusive power cannot.</p>
<p>Rate */12</p>
<p>advice appreciated :)</p>