The United States Marine Corps has a saying. They actually have many, but this one in particular strikes a cord: "Adapt and overcome." Powerful in its simplicity, this phrase captures the success of the human species. Necessity is the mother of invention because something must be adapted in order to meet our needs. Yet, adaptation is always met with resistance because it challenges something even more prevalent within our society: comfort. The elites of this world have shown time and again that they would rather forgo adaptation for comfort. We as a society must recognize unnecessary comfort, and even more importantly, an opportunity to adapt. We must acknowledge that we stand on the cusp of an evolutionary change in our society and the only thing holding us back is comfort. We must realize that we all have the power to adapt and overcome.

Fossil fuels are archaic and the real challenge to democracy. They choke the air as they choke the autonomy of this great nation. Fossil fuels have placed us at odds with an entire culture and have brought us to the brink of an all out holy war.

Adapt and overcome: It's time to stop pandering to oil and energy companies and move quickly toward renewable fuels that don't pollute or require us to intrude into places we are not welcome.

The two-party system is destroying the possibility of true democratic discourse within this country. The system limits the development of new leaders and new ideas. The American public is subjected to viewing politics through their government-issue black and white televisions, rather than seeing our country's problems and solutions in true color.

Adapt and overcome: Disband the Republican and Democratic parties. The politics within the parties alone call for a split. Throw out moderates who act like activists and give them their own party. A more realistic adaptation would call for an immediate build-up of the Green and Reform parties. This pressure from both sides of the political spectrum would cause immediate growth for both parties and would introduce Americans to a multi-party system.

The Penn State football team has the worst record in their history and partying this semester hasn't been quite up to par.

Adapt and overcome: The record of a football team should have no bearing on your college experience. These players are students like everyone else. But when they perform at a lower level than everyone at this school expects them to, they become berated with criticism and insults. If you're so unhappy with the team, go out a play yourself. If you're unhappy with incidents off the field, you better be damn sure you're a saint. If you're unhappy with Joe Paterno, realize that he has done more for this university than any other living person (and he didn't even go here). Maybe there are actually more important things in life than wins and losses on the football field. And Penn State does actually have other sports and athletes, in case you might have forgotten.

Perhaps there are other ways of determining world powers and conquest without resorting to "shock and awe" or invasion and occupation.

Adapt and overcome: From now on, there will be an annual Risk tournament. The players will be the chief heads of state from every country in the world. If there are disputes about land, atrocities or the harboring of terrorists, the countries involved will be required to play a game of Risk to determine a course of action. This is pretty much what the Department of Defense does now anyway.

Your favorite NFL team faltered at the beginning of the season.

Adapt and overcome: The Eagles will win the Super Bowl this year.

Fear of a people is only an indication of a fear of inadequacy within the individual.

Adapt and overcome: Racism and homophobia have no place within an enlightened society. Many don't understand this concept, so let me rephrase. Many people are programmed not to understand this concept. The intolerance of the elites has been transferred to the lower classes of our civilization because intolerance breeds marginalization. We should all be so wise to
recognize that these values are being programmed into our heads for the sustainability of a dying upper class society struggling for their last grip over us.

Complacency and ignorance in the state legislature has led to dismal levels of appropriation to public higher education.

Adapt and overcome: Well, voting would be nice, seeing as we live in a democracy and all. This leads one to wonder where the complacency and ignorance stems from.

Cameras are watching you eat pizza.

Adapt and overcome: Stop eating pizza and avoid Beaver Canyon at all costs. Or vote.

Communism is no longer the dirty buzz word or the ever evasive enemy. Now it's terrorism.

Adapt and overcome: This is a prime example of devolution and letting our most basic primal instinct, fear, determine the course of our politics and civilization. The very concept of terror requires the presence of fear. Without fear, terror cannot exist. Yet the leadership of our country, on both sides of the aisle, have played upon and amplified our natural fear through politicizing it into an issue that might grant them the job they desire or keep the job they have. What ever happened to the saying, "We have nothing to fear except fear itself."?

Perception is reality. When a problem presents itself, only the individual has the choice to be comfortable and ignore the problem, or to take the next step toward solution and adapt. The world can still be changed. Fear of the unknown must not dominate the path of this society. Otherwise, we will never grow.