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In challenging authority one must first examine who or what the authority is. To any given relationship there may be an authority, or a system of equality. Furthermore, in challenging something, one doesn't necessarily overthrow and deter completely what is being done or said, but merely offers options or alternatives to that which already is. So for one to challenge authority isn't wholly detrimental or negative to society or the life that one leads, when all the parties involved understand what it truly means to do so.

I personally consider challenging authority to be a completely healthy thing for one to do. Granted that it is done with a level of respect and understanding of how the authority challenged could react to consequently. Especially if a person challenged doesn't fully comprehend what it means when they are. Most people are so caught up in their own power tirade that all they care about is themselves, and ego such as that isn't surprising considering the amount of power one in authority may garnish. However, for one to understand that being challenged aids in growth to either open the mind's eye to the full truth or at least understand all the possibilities, instead of just their own, shouldn't be reacted to harshly and in bad consequence to the challenger.

The only way that such a challenge may be more helpful to the challenger against authority, is when the challenge is raised without the proper knowledge of the truth. In which case, authority is there to help the challenger learn the truth as such, and thus is why such a position is granted to said party. For example, a teacher is an authority over his/her students in order to aid the students to learn the knowledge that they have already learned for themselves. In such a case, any student trying to challenge a teacher may aid in both parties learning somethng, if the student truly has a grasp of what they are challenging, or the teacher may more guide the student to the real root issue of what is being challenged, and in most cases, the truth.

I remember my high school World History teacher always telling us to "Challenge authority!" They are there for a reason, but it doesn't mean that how they are or what they do shall never change. We must challenge that which we know, why something is an authority and why. To what extent we determine as a whole such an authority may impose in our lives or how important it truly is to each and every one of us. We are our own authority, we choose our lives and actions, decisions and choices. At least most Americans anyways, and we are a Democracy for a flippin reason! Open your eyes and minds everyone! You are your own authority, an authority over us is only there should we let them. As Americans we die for that right. So challenge authority, challenge that which you know, believe, understand, or readily do and know why its there, Otherwise we are living like robots under some or another "authority" and shall never live as God has granted us to.

Learn more about this author, Cassandra Grace Scroggs.
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