<p>Prompt: Should people take more responsibility for solving problems that affect their communities or the nation in general?</p>
<p>Essay:
Most of us view our government as a source of providing solutions that we have come to enjoy. However, solutions initiated by the people are much more reliable and beneficial. Indeed people should take more responsibility for solving problems that affect their communities or the nation in general because it underscores the ability the people have to change society. From the story of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and the current elections in Afghanistan, people are taking responsibility of solving problems helping their communities to making the people much more self-relient and self-sufficient.
In Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Miserables, Hugo introduces Jean Valjean who had just escaped from prison and is looking for a place to stay. After searching without any success, Jean Valjean is introduced to a priest who helps Jean Valjean have an epiphany. Now wanting to promote change in society and in himself, Jean Valjean travels to a nearby city introducing his new invention and ultimately becoming mayor bettering the community. While the government in the novel is constantly attempting to seize Jean Valjean for escaping from prison, Jean Valjean is the one who is responsible for promoting change to the people and success for his community. He has proved to become much more self-relient, emphasizing his true ability to benefit society.
Although the story of Jean Valjean shows us an example from literature of the power that the people have to promote benefits to society, the current elections in Afghanistan shows us a real life example of how the people are more effective in promoting their cause then the government is. In the past few months the people within Afghanistan have begun to rebel against the “corrupt” government urging for free and fair elections to take place. Even though 80 percent of the government is under the influence of the Taliban, it was the people who protested in favor of a democratic society. Even after a hint of rigging in the elections, the people were in charge of recounting the ballets ensuring that the elections were fair. Without the help of the people, Afghanistan would have never taken the steps toward a democracy.
People should take more responsibility for solving problems in their communities and nation. As seen in the story of Jean Valjean and the elections in Afghanistan, the people are what fuel the drive to solving our problems.</p>