Scenes from the second Sunday in March could very well resemble  “Two Minutes of Hate” from George Orwell’s 1984 because citizens lose an hour of sleep. The catalyst behind losing sleep is the country “springing forward” for daylight savings. Unanimously, the hour of sleep is missed, but only some understand the necessary sacrifice. The reason people moan and groan every year is because they do not grasp the concept of delayed gratification.

The government conceded to the moaners’ demands with the Sunshine Protection Act passed by Congress, as well as multiple states operating on a standard, year-round schedule.

As a previous antagonist to daylight saving time, I have embraced the necessary sacrifice of sleep. Daylight saving time should be maintained for reasons such as power conservation, improvement, safety and because it is stupendous.  

According to the Bureau of Transportation, daylight saving time was originally started about a century ago to conserve energy for the Great War effort. The concept is that people can use sunlight, rather than fossil fuels, to illuminate their homes. Germany initiated this idea to save fossil fuels for their war effort, and it was adopted by America soon after for the same reason. While technology has progressed beyond the inefficient incandescent light bulbs used at the time, LED lights still require energy to power them. Through the government extending daylight hours, energy is saved, and it allows for nicer illumination from daylight.

Daylight saving time also educates the population about time management. People have to be more astute in the spring to account for the hour of sleep they will lose.

“[Daylight saving time] gets me that sweet extra hour in the fall to sleep more and takes away an hour that I desperately need to finish a project and study for my test tomorrow, in the spring,” said junior David Wiser.

Daylight saving time has taught Wiser a valuable lesson about time management. Additionally, having the sun set later would keep the community outside for longer, which would improve their health because they would receive more vitamin D. 

Daylight saving time is, simply, safer. Although Mike Davis from Asbury Park Press said, “Sleep-deprived drivers cause more than 6,400 deaths and 50,000 debilitating injuries on American roadways each year,” it is incorrect to attribute daylight saving time with sleep deprivation. While the clock change can cause drowsiness, it is objectively safer to drive in the sunlight. There are a plethora of benefits to driving during the day, including better visibility of the road, shrubbery and animals. The sun also keeps you more alert because your body releases hormones to sleep when it is dark outside. Driving at night adds dangers, like individuals driving past or behind you with their high beams on and not being able to see deer running out to have an up-close-and-personal moment with your vehicle. 

Many Americans like to contrast America with Europe, claiming America is inferior to Europe because we still use the imperial measuring system and do not have free healthcare; however, Europe still uses a form of daylight savings. If we should mimic Europe’s “superiority,” then America should keep daylight savings. Since Europeans like Newton developed a theory of gravity, we should still adjust time since Germany came up with the idea. Like most of Germany’s great engineering feats, there is a fatal oversight in the design. 

The daylight savings time antagonist’s argument is summarized by former RV student, Cattanea Lawrence’s claim that “Daylight savings should be abolished due to its disruption of the circadian rhythm and its archaicness.” Cattanea fails to consider the average American in her claim as their circadian rhythm is already screwed up from video games, Youtube and Tiktok. Daylight savings cannot punish irresponsible people as they do not care for their bodies. Additionally, the circadian rhythm can easily adjust to new sleeping patterns.

America should also keep daylight savings because of tradition. American culture is rooted in tradition, so surrendering daylight savings may lead to citizens surrendering their freedom! There will not be an America without freedom, so we must keep daylight savings to avoid the slippery slope.

The wholesomeness of daylight saving time can best be encapsulated by sophomore Kira Marks’ liking to walk outside when it starts to get cooler with the “light still somewhat there.”

When asked about daylight saving time, RV junior Kalyan Dave quoted Winston Churchhill as saying, “An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.”

Daylight savings is one of a few benefits of war and should be maintained due to its net positive nature.