Summary

The article discusses the opposition to student loan forgiveness by some individuals who have already paid off their debts, questioning the rationale behind the desire for others to endure similar hardships.

Abstract

The author of the article reflects on the recurring argument against student loan forgiveness, where individuals express anger at the prospect of others having their debts canceled after they themselves have paid off their loans. The author challenges this perspective, advocating for a world where younger generations face fewer struggles than their predecessors. They express a desire for societal improvements in areas such as gender equality, mental health support, and financial burden reduction. The piece emphasizes the importance of not perpetuating past norms of suffering and instead striving to create a more compassionate and equitable society. The author's goal is to contribute to a better world, suggesting that the collective aim should be to alleviate as much suffering and pain as possible for the benefit of all.

Opinions

The author believes that it is unjustified for people to be angry about student loan forgiveness for others, especially when they have already paid off their own debts.
There is a hope that future generations will not have to face the same challenges, such as sexual harassment, mental health stigma, and student loan debt.
The author argues against the notion that suffering is a rite of passage or a normal experience that must be preserved for future generations.
They question whether the resistance to change is rooted in a need for validation of one's own past pain or a fear of being alone in suffering.
The author's stance is that the ultimate goal should be to improve the world and make it more loving and accepting, rather than clinging to outdated and harmful societal norms.
They advocate for actively working to minimize suffering and pain for as many people as possible during our lifetime.
The author is puzzled by the rhetoric that opposes progress and improvements in society, emphasizing that suffering should not be an expectation or a norm.

Suffering Through Life: Why Do We Argue Against Improvements?

“I suffered, so you should too!” Why?

As we get closer and closer to the possibility of mass student loan cancelation/forgiveness, I keep seeing the same argument over, and over, and over again.

Without fail, after every tweet, every video, every article discussing the possibility of student loan forgiveness there is someone who comments saying that they will be “mad” if they paid off their student loan debt just to have other people have theirs forgiven. Why? Why would that anger you?

I don’t know about you, but one of my true wishes in life is that people younger than me will not have to struggle through the same things I did.

I hope that younger generations of girls and women won’t have to suffer through sexual harassment at their first job.

I hope that younger generations can maybe come into a world with more equitable, forgiving, and compassionate approaches toward those suffering from mental illness.

I hope that younger generations aren’t impacted by the crippling student loan debt that so many people my age are.

I remember once when I told a story about the sexual harassment I had experienced at a young age at work to someone. It wasn’t anything huge just the typical comments about my appearance and inappropriate language. But, either way, it shouldn’t have happened.

As I was explaining, they asked me why I was complaining. They had gone through the same thing and they told me that it was just the norm. It was merely a step in womanhood that we all had to experience.

Maybe, they said, I should just stop talking about it and complaining and deal with it. But, why?

Because you did? No. I don’t want to go through something because it was your normal. I’d rather change the idea of what is considered normal.

You should not wish suffering and pain on others just because you had to go through it yourself.

I thought the whole goal was for us to leave things better than how we found them. Is that not what we were all taught when we were younger? Did I miss something here? When did the narrative change that people should be forced to suffer through things just because we did?

Is it some form of validation for your pain? Is it that people don’t want to feel alone in their suffering? I’m not being sarcastic, I’m really asking.

For me, leaving the world better than I found it has been my whole goal. My whole goal and hope and dreams are that people will come into a world that is better, more loving, and more accepting than the one I was born into.

Suffering should not be the expectation. Pain should not be the norm. The goal should be to minimize the most suffering and pain for the most people while we are on this earth.

I really don’t understand the rhetoric that suggests and hopes for the opposite.

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