Dynamic Goodness

Where’s the merit in mediocrity?

Ashley Sudeta

I don’t know what goodness means at this point. The concept has been gutted, hollowed out, emptied. Expectations for almost everything have sunk so low that many of the things we consider good or nice aren’t either of those things—they’re just not bad. Characterizing goodness as the absence of bad qualities wildly limits us, preventing us from not only asking for better, but also doing more.

One glaring example of this phenomenon is Kamala Harris, who was able to gain support and votes partially through the merit of simply not being Donald Trump. What does it say about our country when a presidential candidate can be “good” because of who she isn’t instead of who she is? Why must we be complacent with unfulfilling options for the sake of avoiding the worst?

The same idea applies to the way we live. “Minnesota Nice” will always frustrate me. This version of “niceness” is devoid of any kindness, instead centering around making yourself small and convenient. Niceness shouldn’t just be a lack of impolite behavior, it should be established through the presence of warmth and compassion. I know it’s impossible to give your heart to every person you meet, but that doesn’t mean basic manners should be praised. We need to push ourselves to incorporate goodness into our lives through our actions instead of specific inactions!

As a 13-year-old in the Catholic Church I chose St. Joan of Arc as my confirmation name, essentially adopting her as a personal patron saint. Among a host of women canonized for living quietly as nuns, Joan of Arc wielded a banner in battle against the English. I wanted to live my life with a similar degree of action. In the near decade since, I've tried to retain a mentality of dynamic goodness. I don’t know if I’ve succeeded, but there’s still time to keep trying. It’s not too late for us to raise our standards, demanding more and acting better. It’s time to approach goodness dynamically and expect the same from others.