What is it that makes people hold onto their beliefs despite the pressures that may be placed on them to change? What is it that allows humans to exhibit will power? Is it possible to break that will? Is it possible to break the human soul? The answer is somewhat eluding.

There are many factors that can affect the way people think or the ideas that they express. Those factors can be anything from extreme torture to repetitive statements that oppose what you believe. Torture can break someone down to the point that there is nothing that they would not do, no matter what they believed or held onto. There is a point that a person can be pushed to, where they will succumb to the pressures exerted on them. There is nothing that the person can do to stop it, they just want to end the suffering. If they have to give up their beliefs to do so, they will.

Another instance that people's will can be broken is through brainwashing. If someone is constantly told that they are wrong, they will begin to believe that they are wrong... even if they know they are right. This doubt can inevitably cause someone to change their ideas to the contrary of what they initially believed, just because that is what everyone else says is right.

Is it possible that people still hold onto the belief... deep inside themselves? Is it possible that the human will can never be extinguished? That question could be posed, and answered, many different ways. No matter how that question is worded, the response will always be the same. Mankind may be strong, some people may be able to resist... but inevitably their will shall be broken.

The reason people will give in is due to the overwhelming need to conform. Everyone is always telling you that you should be more like this person or that you should do this cause everyone else is doing it. If you don't follow the group, you become an outcast and stand out in the crowd.

Sure, it is possible to hide how you feel, to fake what you do, but how long can you be perfect? It's impossible to keep a mask up all the time. It's impossible to put on an unblemished act every single minute of every single day, of your life. That one small slip could result in you being eliminated, cleansed to remove your "impure" thoughts... your thoughts that went against the norm. So, yes it is possible to still have the spark, but will it do you any good? It can't because as soon as you let up, even for a second, someone will notice and it will all be over. This type of elimination is not something that the people in this nation face, but in several other nations... this worry is evident every day of their lives.

If the control over the people was lifted, would it be possible to go back to what society used to be like? The only way that could happen is if the society as a whole moved in that direction. Eventually the instincts of the people would resurface as long as a leader was brave enough to go against the norm and work to return things to the way they used to be. If there was not a person that would do that, then someone that was used to the current society would rise up and things would continue on as they were. The power to go back resides in the willingness of people to stand against the norm and fight for what they believe in. If someone steps up to go against the norm, they will have to be strong and really believe in what they practice, because as the saying goes... only the strong will survive. Voice yourself... do not be held silent.