Siddarth Kamath Week 12: "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility"
In a world filled with many governments, each had to have its authority to maintain and keep peace. Some of these governments may not want to reach this standard. Others would like to be isolated and live off the little resources they have. But of course, each government wants control and with this control brings great responsibility.
If the leadership of the country does not give orders, the country will fade away. If the leadership of the country does not respect its citizens, the country will fall apart. If the leadership of the country does not handle foreign affairs, the country will be ruined. If the leadership of the country does not maintain its GDP or economy, the country's banks will be bankrupt. Even with all these conditions, many governments are able to function and thrive. One way to do this is by having an independent government where the leadership takes care of all the tasks. Another way is to share authority among many parts of the government to share the load the country will have.
Of course, this reasoning does not only relate to the regime and politics, it also relates to each and every governing body. For example, an individual running a start-up company would be very tense and would fixate on the advancements of the company to be shown to investors and the public. The other members of the start-up would help in the task though they have their own responsibilities such as coding their website, developing the product, etc. With a good team dynamic can a company really make a stand and be known in the public eye. As Bill Gates put it in a 2013 TED Talk, "everyone needs a coach." Each member of the company has to look up to their CEOs and founders and seek guidance on how to grow. This means more responsibility and the larger the company, the more the responsibility.
This principle is also present in Spider-Man. When Uncle Ben dies, he tells a very important proverb to young Spider-Man, "with great power comes great responsibility." As Spider-Man grew and became more advanced, he began to see how the world around him changed as he hid his identity. He realizes that the power should be used to help the community and helps fight crime in New York City. Even though Spider-Man is meant for a younger audience does not mean that it gives vital life lessons. In fact, this proverb was coined by Voltaire, a famous and well-recognized French author that was used in Spider-man. We need to remember that when we grow stronger mentally and physically that responsibility will also grow.
Hi Siddarth! It was very entertaining to read about your discussion about the relationship between power and responsibility. I loved your reference to Spider-Man in the title as well as the example included in the final paragraph. The way in which you explored power and responsibility’s fundamental correlation is intriguing. One thing in particular that caught my attention is the repetition you used in the beginning of your second paragraph, with multiple clauses beginning in the same phrase: “If the leadership of the country.” In your introduction, you mentioned that some countries have high levels of authority while others remain isolated. However, I do not believe that authority and isolation are necessarily opposite. For instance, North Korea is often considered the most isolated nation in the world. Yet, it is also one of the most authoritative states, with Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un killing off his family members to secure power, closing access to media from the outside world, and governing every aspect of his civilians’ lives. I agree with the rest of your points on how the government’s authority dictates the well-being of its country. I also appreciate how you apply the role power plays outside of the government, using entrepreneurs and Spider-Man as your specific examples. I personally would not have been able to think of these examples, and it furthers the enjoyment I gained from reading your article.
ReplyDeleteHey Siddarth! Your post about the relationship between power and responsibility in governance and leadership got me thinking about the connection between the concept of "with great power comes great responsibility" and parenting in "Everything I Never Told You." As we all know, Marilyn and James Lee have a lot of influence on their kids' lives. Motivated by her own unrealized aspirations, Marilyn encourages Lydia to excel academically and take chances she was never given. As a Chinese-American father living in a white neighborhood, James, on the other hand, battles with his identity, and his need for approval influences the way he raises his children. Marilyn and James have a great deal of power over their kids' futures because they are parents, as their behaviors, attitudes, and expectations have a significant influence on how their children develop. Nevertheless, they struggle with this, just like many parents do, because it can be seen that Marilyn exemplifies the idea that immense influence involves enormous responsibility through her persistent desire for Lydia's success. Although she thinks she is doing what is best for her, Marilyn's inability to speak honestly with Lydia about her needs and difficulties eventually causes conflict. James's internalized issues of identity and belonging also show up in his parenting, as he tries to protect his kids from the racism he experienced as a child. However, his unwillingness to face these problems makes his kids feel alone and misunderstood. The saying "with great power comes great responsibility" and the concept of responsibility in "Everything I Never Told You" share a connection: parents have a great deal of responsibility for influencing their children's lives, just as leaders and governments have to deal with the complexity of their power. What are your thoughts on the role communication plays in sharing responsibilities and promoting positive parent-child relationships, and how can parents learn from their mistakes to modify their parenting style as their kids develop and mature?
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