With High Power Comes Enemies

By: Victoria Vermeer

     In a seat of high power, maintaining popularity can be a difficult goal to accomplish. There are pressures to please people or be at risk of loosing a good reputation. Keeping the wants of subjects and competitors in consideration is a tiring task because of the way people behave.  You can not hold a position of high power without making enemies due to societies jealous, insecure and self-centred attitudes.

     "Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies."-Elizabeth Bowen. Although jealousy is only a state of mind it can cause ordinary people to do outrageous things. Greek mythology shows just how far some would go to have an advantage over those they view as a threat. For example, Hera (the Goddess married to Zeus)often killed Zeus' lovers and children because she was overcome with jealousy. The driving force of these strong feelings must have been the fear of not being good enough for Zeus... Therefore, she eliminated her competition. This is an example of how jealousy can have an impact on ones actions while competing for a highly wanted position. Seeing the opposition do well can create a feeling of panic or fear in someone  for their  future and send them into a frenzy.

     How far would you go to reach your goals? Lying, cheating, sacrifice... assassination? Assassination happens to influential people; one of the reasons prompting someone to assassinate a public figure could be insecurity, again linked to fear. Having the power to change peoples lives could make those under rule feel threatened. For example, many US heads of state have put their lives at risk because in a country as large as theirs, there is usually people who will disagree with their ideas. This political unrest often leads to assassination of Presidents such as, John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Both men stated were generally well liked by the public so why was the power both Presidents possessed intimidating? This is where jealousy comes into play again. The opposition seeing how well the leaders were doing had a great motive to panic. Assassination definatley would eliminate their competition. 

      Enemies do not always come from competition but from subjects as well. One thing these two ranks of people have in common is that they both want what is best for themselves. If those influenced by power feel an unjust in the system, it will be challenged. For example, a team coach may want to better the teams cardio by incorporating more running into practices. Being able to run faster and longer would benefit the team as a whole; however this could anger some members on the team. This happens in political and work settings as well. Certain sacrifices need to be made sometimes in order for a good outcome to occur, not everyone can always see that though. Because of these self-centred mannerisms it is easy to make enemies.

      It is nearly impossible to please everyone while having an important role in society, school, the work place or even at home. Being a leader is a very taxing duty because there are so many people thoughts to take into account. Even getting to the position is extremely hard because there will be people working against you. Because of those two factors it is easier to make enemies than to make friends while trying to reach your full potential. Popularity is a difficult game due to our nations jealous, insecure, and self-cented mannerisms.