“Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict” Saul Alinsky philosophized. Change and movement cannot exist without the excruciating friction of conflict. However, as a result of this struggle, modifications on people either positively or negatively will flourish. This is the foundation of humanity – the constant evolvement to adapt to their current environment. Therefore, a major conflict internally and/ or externally will result in a significant alteration in one’s life. This idea is evident in the story “Fear” by Anne Frank, the poem “The Man Who Finds That His Son Has Become a Thief” by Raymond Souster, and the movie War of the Worlds by Steven Spielberg in which characters are remarkably effected by the conflicts that they face.
Fear is often one’s worst inner enemy. It will prompt one to crawl into their darkest corners and hide, and can also cause one to…
This is shown when the narrator in “Fear” displays a memorable change during the time when bombs fall constantly from the sky, the father in “The Man Who Finds That His Son Has Become a Thief” grows sceptical and dubious about his son when he discovers that his son lied, and Rachel in War of the Worlds transforms into a m entally stronger and secure girl after the invasion. All three characters demonstrated how conflict is the reason that forces them to adapt and change, which impacts their life greatly. As Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith once said “every conflict we face in life is rich with positive and negative potential. It can be a source of inspiration, enlightenment, learning, transformation, and growth–or rage, fear, shame, entrapment, and resistance. The choice is not up to our opponents, but to us, and our willingness to face and work through…
