Responsibility: A Concept that Follows You Forever
James Hsu 24
Mr. de Groof
Grade 11 composition
11 Nov, 2013
11G 24 James
Whenever we do something, we should first think of the consequences
and the responsibilities that we have to take. The most valuable point of
human kind is that we have responsibilities to take, which makes us different
from animals. Throughout history, the ones who took responsibilities－such as
George Washington－were extoled by people, and for the ones who did not－
such as the dictators who ruled during the Reign of Terror － ended up
themselves badly.
As dictionary.com states, the word responsibility means “the state or fact
of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one’s
power, control, or management.” Additionally, this word is used as a noun. The
word responsibility came from responsible+ -ity in 1787; the meaning of “that
for which one is responsible” was then from 1796. And the word responsible,
which is the origin of responsibility, came from obsolete French which had the
meaning of being answerable in 1590s. The meaning of “accountable for one’s
actions” was later attested from 1640s. (Online Etymology Dictionary)
Common
synonyms
for
responsibility
could
be
answerability
and
accountability.
Just like Abraham Lincoln said” You cannot escape the responsibility of
tomorrow by evading it today”. Responsibility is what everyone has to face and
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11G 24 James
take serious; it is unavoidable. Being responsible is necessary in any situation.
For example, finishing homework on time or being well-prepared for tests is
taking responsibility for your school grade. You may escape what you should
do in the first place, but it will still come back to you at last, and the
responsibilities you have to deal with are not going to be shaken off.
Responsibility is a concept which can benefit or harm people. For the
ones who take it, they will be admired; the ones who don’t will be blamed. One
of the greatest examples of responsible people is be George Washington, the
founding father of America. After the American Revolution, Washington
became so popular to the people of America that some of his supporters even
suggested him to be the king of America. However, Washington refused this
idea. He said that he would not become the thing which they had been
previously fighting against; hence he became the first “president” of the United
States. He was being responsible to his people for that he did not only care
about his own good and take advantage of the people’s trust, but actually
sought the maximum benefit for the whole country. His action of taking
responsibility by becoming the first president has enabled the United States to
exist in the form of a democratic country until today.
In contrast, rulers during the Reign of Terror in France were not
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11G 24 James
responsible to their people at all. After the French Revolution, the Montagnards
(also known as Jacobins) came to power, and established the National
Convention. Among the radical revolutionists, Marat, Danto, and Robespierre
were the three leaders of the dictatorship. Their revolution did successfully
overthrow the monarchy and the Old Rule, but did not bring peace to France.
The mad rulers sentenced mass innocent population to death, and killed
everyone in their way. They did not take the responsibility to protect the people
of France, so they paid the price; Marat was assassinated in his tub, and the
other two were sent to the guillotine. This shows us if one doesn’t take
responsibility, one may get into a great trouble.
Responsibility takes a big part in our everyday life, and if everyone in the
society takes it seriously, there will be fewer conflicts and more stability. No
matter what we do or what kind of situation we are in, we should always try the
best to take full responsibility, especially when we’ve done something wrong.
Never try to avoid the responsibility, or free lunches can be magnified into
serious troubles.
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References
Douglas Harper. “responsible.” Online etymology dictionary. 27 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=responsible&allowed_in_frame=
0>
Julia Shaw. “The Man Who Would Not be King” The Foundry. 23 Dec. 2010. 27
Oct. 2013.
<http://blog.heritage.org/2010/12/23/the-man-who-would-not-be-king/>
“responsibility quotes” Brainy Quote. BookRas Media Network. 27 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/responsibility.html>
"responsibility." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 27 Oct. 2013.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/responsibility>.
Ramirez, Susan Elizabeth., Stearns, PeterWineburg, Samuel Holt World
History: Human Legacy. Orlando, FL : Holt, Rinehart And Winston, 2008. Print.
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