Effects Of Civil Disobedience
Historically, America has always been a land of rebellious individuals. Since inception, the idea of being subordinated into compliance never set well with the rugged individual spirit. The protests escalated from the stubborn refusal of paying taxes, but the message still remains: controlled protests have paved the way for increased political conversation and improved democracy, despite the claim that it is too rebellious.
As a young nation, many elements of government and civilian life continually evolve. Increasing discussion on these issues leads to a better relationship between the people and the government. Without civil disobedience, the voice of the people would not be heard. Many young Americans have spoken out against unjust decisions
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Without protests, walkouts, and sit ins there would be no change. Democracy is a beautiful idea that is designed to be fluid to accommodate the people’s needs. Without resistance, the oppressed would never rise above the chains that bind them. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who advocated for peace, also advocated for disobedience. One of the most famous works to come from the Civil Rights Era was his Letter from Birmingham Jail. That letter has become a symbol for taking action against an unjust system that “degrades human personality”. As a result of his call to arms, a sociopolitical revolution occurred that ultimately resulted in the ratification of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Without the courage that it took to go to jail for his cause, the rights movement would not have been as successful. King’s actions lead the way for other equally important rights movements. Women’s rights was spearheaded by women influenced by The Feminist Mystique by Betty Friedan. Stretching into today, modern disobedience strives for reproduction rights as well as equal pay in the new age feminist movement. LGBTQ protests have been an evolving movement spanning from the riots at Stonewall, to the latest success with Obergefell v. Hodges. Protests extended beyond physical ones, including electric works of art by artists such as Keith Haring. Without the brave individuals peacefully advocating for the happiness of all Americans, …show more content…
The idea of a “responsible citizen” leads these individuals to question the mindset it takes to rebel. A “good” citizen is one who obeys the laws, and it is our duty to uphold the laws determined by our government. However, when the laws meant to protect and make sure the liberties of all are discriminating against a specific group of people, change needs to occur. In most cases, change means taking drastic measures. Another reason the freedom to protest is disregarded, is the suggestion that disobedience heads way to disrespect. Everything is dangerous in the wrong proportions, but non-violent revolutions are nowhere near as treacherous as the movement to stop the constitutional right to free
Cesar Chavez Rhetorical Summary
701 Words | 3 PagesWe would lose regard for human beings. Then the struggle would become a mechanical thing. When you lose your sense of life and justice, you lose your strength,” the text talks about how if we decide to use violence it comes with other unforeseen repercussions and goes into detail of what these consequences are. The references to time provide a contrast and traits of similarity in order to further reinforce Chavez's supportive stance on nonviolence. The use Dr. King, Gandhi and mentions of history in itself provide an ethic to the writer by point out past examples that have proved to be key in rebellions and
Radical Disobedience Dbq
799 Words | 4 PagesAs Oscar Wilde said, “ It is through disobedience that progress has been made-- disobedience and rebellion.” Disobedience during the American Revolution was originally peaceful, but as grievances grew and British rule became harsher, Americans could no longer sit idly by. Radical disobedience to the law was necessary in order to promote change for American society. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, a drastic nonviolent movement was necessary to counteract the expectation of violence, reiterating to Americans that peaceful resistance to laws can positively affect a free society. The Civil Rights movement was split by two factions: one was a violent resistance named The Black Panthers and the other was a nonviolent protest led by Martin Luther King Jr.
Letter To Birmingham Jail Analysis
794 Words | 4 PagesHe writes that “one has not only a legal but moral responsibility to obey just laws” as well as “a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (Letter from Birmingham Jail). King asserts his belief to clergymen in his Letter to Birmingham Jail that he can urge people to obey laws like the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision (to outlaw segregation in public schools) because it is one that is morally right; in like manner, he can also urge people to disobey segregation ordinances because they are ones that are morally wrong. Essentially, he uses this idea as one justification for the civil rights activists’ demonstrations. To this day, King’s ideals in correspondence with the degradation that his people faced are commended by many people whether it be to achieve credibility or to express genuine support for what he represented. Solidarity reminds that even if someone holds power over you, you are not alone in your beliefs or in your supposed
Ethical Problems With Civil Disobedience
1105 Words | 5 PagesThe success of civil disobedience not only led to change, but also allowed many races and cultures to begin organizations and rallies that would help cultivate and shift their struggle to something more prideful. Civil disobedience, as harmful or peaceful, one may recall or define it, it did lead to a unification of many mass organizations and
Martin Luther King Jr Rhetorical Analysis
1686 Words | 7 PagesChange and Revolution have always been in the American bloodstream; from the first wave of immigrants that came to the states, the search for change and the rebellion of injustice has been constant. Through each of our distinctive eras, we’ve had profound leaders that gave our present time the voices and opportunities to achieve the goals they never could. Martin Luther King Jr. , a civil rights activist, and Henry David Thoreau, an 1849 transcendentalist, both are common public figures of their time, pushed the ideas of ethical nonviolent protest. Their diligence made them influential activists of their time in favor of making a change in American society. King and Thoreau strongly encouraged citizens to advocate for nonviolent protest
Pros And Cons Of Civil Disobedience
541 Words | 3 PagesPeople filled streets with riots, many cursed the name that speak such words; but many took to arms peacefully, that is to say that even though people had been in an outcry, some took more honorable methods of civil disobedience such as purchasing private land on the border, creating art and media to express emotions, and refusal to pay taxes.
Examples Of Civil Disobedience In Antigone
1005 Words | 5 PagesToday we are all called to enact on our own civil disobedience when we are faced with injustice and unfair laws, we are called to make a stand and a declaration to stand up for what we believe
How Did The Sit-Ins Affect The Civil Rights Movement
909 Words | 4 PagesThere are times when people must rebel to make a change. It has happened throughout different movements to change unjust laws, and go against unjust people. One big example of civil disobedience during the civil rights movement were sit-ins. Sit-ins were when people continued to peacefully sit in on a restaurant when they were denied service. It was almost a way of life for many people.
Selma To Montgomery March Speech Analysis
840 Words | 4 PagesCitizens can’t be managed by the rulers in everything they do. They have the power make great changes to better our communities and even though they may get punished they can't let fear control then. They can't neglect their responsibilities and have to assume their
Benefits Of Civil Disobedience
531 Words | 3 PagesAlthough this may tend to break some minor laws, the benefits greatly outweigh the costs when considering the liberty of the American people. For the majority of the population, it may seem outlandish and extreme to break the law for a certain cause, but when the past is analyzed, it becomes clear that the most effective way to combat a societal problem may be civil disobedience. Although it is mainly utilized in extreme circumstances, it tends to be an effective method to have one’s voice heard. Breaking out of the mold and crossing lines are necessary when civil liberties and other justices are at risk.
Summary: The Case Against Civil Disobedience
1290 Words | 6 PagesHerbert J. Storing, an Associate Professor of Political Science, in “The Case Against Civil Disobedience,” writes, “One of the practical consequences of this institution [civil disobedience] is to divert disobedience and even revolution into the channel of law” (97). What Storing is saying is that civil disobedience will encourage people to break the laws and they will hide under civil disobedience to avoid the law. Also, civil disobedience might split society by creating disagreements with the people, and it could create a political instability. However, Storing fails to see that those who break an unjust law, as discussed above, do not avoid the law, in fact they show respect to the law as they willingly accept the consequences. By accepting the consequences, they show that they are not acting for their own interests but for society’s.
How Is Civil Disobedience Effective
1251 Words | 6 PagesCivil disobedience is nonviolent resistance to a government’s law in seek of change. Civil disobedience is an effective way to bring about change because it is a harmless way of fighting an unjust law or idea, it can educate people about the cause, and it has been successful many times in history. First and foremost, civil disobedience is
Essay On Civil Disobedience
1360 Words | 6 Pages“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” These astonishing words that Mahatma Gandhi said made me suppose that Civil Disobedience is a Moral Responsibility of a citizen because when breaking certain laws, a citizen perhaps incorporate a good intention or a bad intention for breaking it. Citizens break the law occasionally to have their beliefs be heard so change can be assemble. Some ways that Civil Disobedience can be a Moral Responsibility would be breaking the law for the right intentions. An example of breaking the law for the right intentions could be The Salt March that Gandhi Created or, Rosa Parks standing up for her beliefs about her actions, MLK wanting equal rights with caucasian. Illegal Immigrants coming into the
Civil Disobedience Argument Analysis
695 Words | 3 PagesIn essence, why should we care about a flawed government system that already restrains each one of us? Why should we care about a peaceful protest rather than a violent one that can harm others and oneself? Why should we even care about a divided society? The answer is that we shouldn’t just care about problems, but it’s our responsibility to take action as civil disobedience is fair and needed for any nation to be treated fairly.
Analysis Of Civil Disobedience
755 Words | 4 PagesWith the help of Thoreau’s arguments it will influence people by convincing them into believing that the government is corrupted because they abuse their power. Analyzing Thoreau’s essay, in the American tradition most men identify and value the right of “mutiny”, in which Thoreau extracts the concept of civil disobedience pertaining the government. Thoreau argues that any movement of opposition to government must stabilize the huge injustice to designate the "probability and expense" of redressing the proper meaning of civil disobedience. In the values of today people oftentimes engage in any form of civil disobedience to bring out a much larger attention to serious social problems that would cause a mass debate, especially in our recent presidential election. Because of the negative things people say about President Donald Trump others are rebelling in obeying government laws saying “if he got elected with no work experience then why should I be asked the same question at work interviews?” or “he’s an American who hates Latinos so us Latinos must not obey his laws”.
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