<p>Is success disastrous?</p>
<p>Does a successful suicide guarantee a lifetime of success? IN many circumstances, temporary success is not permanent. Sometimes there are unintended consequences. The rabbit problem in Australia, steroids used in sports, the US Civil War, and British Imperialism are examples of when success has not been everlasting.</p>
<p>In 1859, a British hunter and new resident of Victoria, Australia noticed that there were no rabbits in Australia for him to hunt. So, he ordered 24 form Britain and sent them lose in Victoria to reproduce. For a few weeks he had successful hunting and a good reputation; however, eventually the rabbits reproduced and their numbers increased exponentially. Now, rabbits are some of the most destructive mammalian pests in Australia.</p>
<p>Like the rabbits in Australia, steroids bring temporary success to the athletes who abuse them, but permanent negative health effects. Steroids may make Mark McGwire hit more home runs and consequently gain a better reputation among his fans at first; however, once he is caught, he has an everlasting bad reputation as well as long lasting health problems.</p>
<p>Similar to steroid abusers and rabbit introducers, the Confederate states seceded from the Union and began the Civil War under the impression that the two actions would bring them success. However, success in the beginning of the war did not last, and they eventually surrendered to the Union.</p>
<p>Finally, British Imperialism, like the secession of Confederate states from the Union, was attempt by the British to gain wealth and power by conquering territories and exploiting their citizens. The success that the British Empire had did not last long because its colonies demanded independence. Just like the United States of America fought and won its independence from the British in 1776, Britain’s other colonies, such as India and ones in Africa, started winning their independence too a few decades later. Britain’s imperial success, therefore, did not last.</p>
<p>Rabbits and Australia, steroids and Athletes, the Civil War and the seceding states, and imperialism and Britain are all examples of how success is not always permanent. This does not, however, mean that success can never be permanent–for example, the United States of America is still independent from the British. Instead, it means that we should be cautious of the possible negative consequences of our actions as we plot our plans for future success.</p>