Writing Equals Change?

Christina Bonvicin
2.20.09
Writing Equals Change?

Does writing have the power to enact social change? A better question would be “Can writing have the power to enact social change?” Really, the question of writing changing society is a question of the people who are reading the writing. If only a bunch of high school students are only reading the writing, I doubt it would enact much of a worldwide, or even an America-wide, social change. The change would most likely be only be a few selective students, or, if the teacher was lucky enough, the whole class or grade.

If the president of the United States, on the other hand, read the piece of writing and was moved by it, the possibilities are endless. If really depends on what that specific president believes would be the best line of action. He could possibly think that the social change would be bad for the nation or world, and would not pass any ideas onto Congress to approve. If he thought the change would better the nation and/or the world, then he would most likely pass the ideas onto Congress. Congress would then either approve or deny the idea, through many debates through the pros and cons of the change. If the change is a success, then the president could brag to other countries, and then more countries would enact the social change, causing, possibly, a worldwide change.

On a smaller scale, if the major of a city or town were to read the piece of writing the same thing could happen. Only instead of having to go through the Senate and House of Representatives, the major would most likely have to go through a small city or school council, depending on the type of change, to get the approval he or she needs to start the programs that would get the social changes going throughout the city.

In all, the change depends on the person reading it. If I was just the one reading a piece of writing and it affected me enough to change me, that’s just one person. Really not much of a change, in all honesty. But if the president of the United States wanted to change some social aspect of Americans’ lives, and Congress backed him (or her, I’m holding out hope), then the changes are most pronounced and could possibly be spread worldwide. Thus, I do believe that writing has the power to enact social change… but only if the person reading it is in some form of political power, such as the president or a major of a city.