Effects of Other's Opinions on Choices and Destiny

What power do other people have over each others’ destinies? Every day, people are surrounded by their friends, family or coworkers who each have their own life views and opinions. Opinions are not based off of fact or knowledge. Opinions are based off of emotion. Some people think the opinions of others should affect our choices but this is one of the worst things a person can do. One should not base their decisions on the opinions of others because that can lead you to danger, go against your own morals, and negative opinions can cause oppression.

Basing your destinies and choices on others’ opinions can lead to danger. In some cases, allowing others to influence decisions can even lead to death. For example, in “ The Seventh Man, ” the seventh man influenced his friend K. to go to the ocean right after a huge typhoon. This typhoon led to a tsunami and his friend K. died at the ocean because of it. K. shouldn’t have listened to the opinion of the seventh man because it led to him to danger, and ultimately to his death. Another dangerous opinion that could alter one’s choices is when people might think stealing is beneficial or necessary in some cases. For example, thieves often influence others by showing them that it is necessary to provide for their family in times of need. However, anybody who steals will be punished with a fine or end up in jail, depending on what they stole. Solely relying on the opinions of others can be dangerous, therefore, one should trust themselves to create their own destiny.

Secondly, the opinions of others shouldn’t affect one's destiny because one must follow their own morals and beliefs to reach their destinies. Those that follow their own beliefs and make their own choices based on their own heart reach the exact destiny they want, but listening to others’ opinions prevents that destiny. The story,“ Romeo and Juliet,” proves that allowing our own beliefs to be affected by the opinion of others can negatively affect our destinies and choices. Juliet was influenced by her family to not talk to or marry a Montague. However, Romeo was a Montague and they loved each other very much. Since she was influenced by her family, she feared to believe in her own heart and ended up taking her own life. If she had followed her own morals, she could have ended up with the love of her life. One must also disregard the opinions of others and follow their own morals to reach their destiny. Others’ opinions can influence someone else’s morals by teaching them that their belief is wrong. For example, most people believe that killing another person is a sin or a terrible crime. A murderer might say that it is not a sin and okay if done once. In some cases, someone that has power and great influence over someone else could influence a person into killing another person. That person that was influenced will feel guilty and will be sentenced to many years in prison if he kills someone. By allowing someone else’s morals to have power over yours, your destiny drastically changes. One must follow their own morals and beliefs to fulfill their own destinies.

The negative opinions of others can also lead to oppression if not challenged. One example of this in history is racism. The story, “ Letter from Birmingham Jail,’’ explains how the opinions of others caused tribulation to many African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr., sent a letter to the white clergymen about the injustices African Americans were bearing because of outsiders’ racist opinions. He wrote about how badly the whites were treating the blacks, merely because their opinion was that African American were less than them. These hatred opinions should stop for they are harming others. Martin Luther King Jr. was right. Another example of negative opinions leading to oppression is with womens’ rights. Many people used to believe women were only housekeepers, mistresses, daughters,wives, and mothers. These opinions limited women’s destinies because women couldn’t be part of politics, war, diplomacy and administration. After awhile opinions changed,and now women are allowed to be part of these things and make their own choices for their destinies. Women are smart and very capable of doing these jobs. Overall, the negative opinions of others can lead to oppression and therefore should have no hold on someone’s destiny.

Many examples in the literature have increased my belief that outsider opinions should not affect the choices and destinies of others. The opinions of others can lead to danger and even to death. Everyone should follow their own morals and beliefs to reach their unique destiny. Finally, negative opinions can lead to oppression. Overall, one should not let the opinions of others affect their choices or destiny.