We as citizens share a collective burden in ensuring the well-being of our world. The perpetual threat of our downfall is continuously staved off by those who understand that shouldering the burden is a necessity. Each person who participates lessens the burden for the remainder of the collective, as our eventual collapse is postponed by those who continue to fight.

Individuals fail to protect the well-being of the collective in favor of pursuing self-interest. This is a dangerous temptation, the root of which is apathy. Those who do not understand the burden will seldom support the necessary cause of resisting individual temptation in favor of larger goals. Every person who engages in these self-serving actions hinders the capability of the remaining citizens to hold steadfast.

Increases in apathy lead to not only a lack of caring but a fundamental lack of understanding on a global scale as to the values of overall welfare. An apathetic individual is unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation and the weight of carrying the burden. Those who have experienced the burden of fighting for the principles that support all that is good understand the immense pressure of watching it all crumble in front of their eyes. Anyone who has truly comprehended this experience is bound by a moral tether, forced to serve to prevent future doom.

We are always confronted with new forces of darkness and thus are forced to counter with increased resistance. If we fail to remain vigilant for even one battle, we risk allowing irreparable harm to our world. It requires great effort to continuously muster the strength to fight back against evil, knowing that on any given day it could all be taken away. No matter how many times we resist the calls of empty lies and the lure of false salvation, we still stand to lose it all. All it takes is one defeat and the threat of evil becomes a promise.

Remember: a threat never ceases to exist until it becomes a reality.

Now, more than ever, individuals are losing sight of collective well-being and leaning into global-scale apathy. The bait created by those who yearn for chaos is strong, leaving many to fall victim to the seduction of charlatans. The remainder must pick up the pieces and continue to fight, for we are those who understand the burden. We accept the challenge of putting the weight of the world on our shoulders. When the masses succumb to evil, the burden falls on the best of us.

Adam Fox ’27 is a Lafayette College student.