Jaden Stainforth ’27
Staff Writer
Throughout the sands of time, a plethora of political, social, and economic issues have plagued overall humanity, and in the face of these challenges, people and societies have responded in various ways – all so that they may induce positive change and ameliorate the issues to the best of their abilities. A great deal of humanity has always sought progress forwards for a better tomorrow for all. However, there is a train of thought that has stymied society’s advancement for generations: “Well, that’s just the way it is. It’s always been this way.” This attitude submits itself to the status quo, no matter how horrid it may be, and defends personal and societal inertia. Moreover, it renders the often characterized “indominable” human spirit completely and utterly futile. We wield one of the most powerful traits of existence: free will, and we should not accept its disintegration at our own choosing.
In the modern era of political turmoil, social unrest, and economic inequality, political pundits, people in positions of power, and the everyday individual alike have proven themselves incredibly adept in identifying the crux of issues, both global and local, and bemoaning their impacts. Yet, a large contingent of society tolerates them, believing that devising and implementing solutions of any sort faces too great hurdles worth tackling. This attitude has been applied to all sorts of matters, from healthcare to urban development, climate change, and more. We’ve accepted terrible societal conditions believing that no alternative has ever been in the realm of possibility. Governments and bureaucracies of much of the western world are incredibly glacial in passing substantial and meaningful legislation for the people, businesses and enterprises are slow to adapt to changing circumstances, and people submit to their own inertia instead of making any personal changes in their lives.
One such salient example of this attitude in action concerns the American society’s relationship to the automobile and public transportation. We are so accustomed to a car dependent lifestyle that we have not questioned its merits. All of us know that to live a prosperous life in the U.S. one must own a working automobile, pay for its registration, and have the proper license to drive it. Walking, biking, or using public transportation remains either impractical or even impossible for many communities across the nation. We just accept that wide car-friendly roads, minimal sidewalks, and gigantic freeways are integral parts of American transportation infrastructure. Yet, not only does research prove the physical and social health benefits of walkable and transit friendly cities, but people even PREFER them. However, when we consider changing our cities to be more bike, bus, train, and pedestrian friendly, many of us simply surrender to the purported political and technical “impossibilities” of pro-pedestrian and public transportation infrastructure projects and accept the status quo. Many would say: “The U.S. has always been a car-dependent country. It’s just the way it is.”
Yet, put simply, the U.S. has not always been catered to the car, and it doesn’t have to be this way. Cities across the country have had extensive and reliable public transportation networks. People once could walk or bike as their primary means of transportation. Politicians made a conscious decision to alter cities for the car. However, countries like the Netherlands which have reverted their auto-dependent societies back to pedestrian friendly ones, show that we have the capacity to change yet again.
We must reject this train of thought for the benefit of all. As citizens of the U.S. and more importantly the world, the onus is upon each and every one of us to contribute to the continuation and advancement of humanity. To borrow language from the Bible and former President Barack Obama, we are all each other’s keepers, and we all bear a moral obligation to foster community, mutual care, and stewardship in society. We cannot accept the status quo of inequality, turmoil, and unrest. The current situation of poverty and injustice should not be “just the way it is.” Whether it’s changing the physical landscape of our cities or it’s fixing our healthcare or education system, we have the power to change. Let us not submit to our base desires of comfort and instant gratification. Let us rather push humanity forward by challenging ourselves to reject the status quo. “It’s always been this way and it’s just the way it is” just doesn’t cut it. “Nothing is fixed, and anything can change” does.
Copy Edited by Lily Wasmund ’28
Featured image courtesy of cartoonist Jay Sidebotham
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