His black leather jacket and rugged blue jeans contrasted dramatically with the buttoned-down collared shirts and crisp khaki pants worn by his contemporaries. His dress and sullen expression, marked by a cigarette dangling from his lips, reflected his defiant attitude towards authority. Movie star James Dean was the iconic rebel both on and off screen with his reckless behavior and disregard for society’s rules. Rebels are routinely labeled as bad influences due to their destructive behavior. Yet rebels can challenge society’s norms and still have many commendable, even heroic, qualities. Rebels share their visions to give people hope that the world’s injustices can be righted. Through their unwavering courage and resolute perseverance, rebels help us accomplish incredible feats.
Before rebels begin to change the world, they clearly picture what they want to accomplish. Most importantly, rebels share their dreams convincingly in order to motivate others. Sixty year ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a rebel who wanted to end racial conflict in America. In his I Have A Dream speech, he envisioned an America in which men were judged by their character, not by their race. However, is it one thing to have a dream and another to turn that dream into reality. Rebels turn abstract visions into concrete actions. Dr. King’s words were not just rhetoric; they were backed with deeds. Throughout the South, Dr. King staged peaceful demonstrations, marched on state capitals, and boycotted city bus systems, thereby setting the stage for change. Yet when rebels enact their visions, challenges will inevitably occur. Rebels foresee problems and deal with them accordingly. In the midst of fierce opposition, Dr. King had a plan for conflict. Drawing on his solid knowledge of scripture, Dr. King declared, “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.” He encouraged his fellow rebels to respond peacefully, thereby refusing to give his opponents a reason for violence and disarming potentially destructive situations. Dr. King exemplified the heroic rebel. Like Dr. King, rebels are unafraid to challenge society’s standards and have the keen ability to see what others cannot see. They not only make opportunities to enact their visions, but also anticipate challenges and overcome difficulties to bring about lasting change.
In the face of overwhelming odds, rebels show uncommon courage. Likewise, they clearly exhibit unwavering bravery when making tough decisions. George Washington courageously rebelled against tyrannical England and helped lead the colonies in their fight for independence. In December 1777, Washington faced a dilemma. Across the Delaware River lay an opportunity to strike a decisive victory for the colonists, but Washington’s soldiers were weary from fighting in the bitter cold. Washington could immediately attack but risk a perilous assault across the river. Weighing the risks, Washington made the difficult decision to cross the Delaware and was victorious. Rebels also respond bravely in the face of danger, even when starring at death. When his commanding officer was killed during the French and Indian War, Washington took charge. He fearlessly dodged bullets while attempting to rally his troops, and two horses were shot from under him. But Washington remained undeterred, saving his unit from slaughter. Rebels have the tenacity, furthermore, to go against popular opinion. At Valley Forge, Washington watched as his army dissolved. Even as his troops became mutinous, Washington refused to surrender, although many of his peers said it was foolish to continue fighting. Rebels such as Washington are unafraid to make tough decisions when facing insurmountable odds. Through their unfaltering courage, rebels remain calm and resolute through the most perilous situations, even when forced to stand alone.
But rebels’ stands are not just one-time events; rebels often undergo many lengthy emotional and physical trials. Rebels posses the resolve to fight for years to achieve their visions. William Wilberforce, a representative of the British Parliament during Colonial times, set out to abolish the slave trade within the British Empire. For twenty agonizing years, Wilberforce met failure but continued to fight. Rebels also persevere through personal attacks. When Wilberforce made his controversial stand against the slave trade, many of his opponents declared that he did not have Britain’s best interests at heart. Since England’s relations with America were strained, Wilberforce’s correspondence with American Thomas Jefferson caused some British to label Wilberforce a traitor. Furthermore, rebels remain headstrong through physical challenges. After two decades of constant stress, Wilberforce’s health was failing. Painful bouts with colitis left Wilberforce weak, and soon he became addicted to opium. Wilberforce had every reason to give up, but he still refused to quit. His steadfast determination was rewarded when, after decades of debate, Parliament overwhelmingly voted to end the slave trade within the British Empire. Rebels such as Wilberforce display uncanny persistence in achieving their visions. Despite the time, personal cost, or physical toll exacted, rebels refuse to back down from their fights.
James Dean personified the classic bad boy in his movie Rebel Without A Cause. Yet rebels can be respectful individuals who bring about much needed change. Rebels envision the impossible as possible. Demonstrating dogged valor, they confront any challenges that await them. Rebels staunchly fight to right wrongs long after others have retired from the conflict. Unlike James Dean, heroic rebels can indeed have a cause. Rebels are true change makers, and the world is a better place because of them.
