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Civil disobedience in general word
Civil disobedience in general word
Why civil disobedience is a problem
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Laws are made and enforced for a reason.No matter how bad or ridiculous a law may seem it is to benefit and protect the well being of the people.If people break or "peacefully resist" then there is no point in having the law.Sure the person who resisted the law will face the consequences but at what cost the damage is done and if the punishment is not sever enough then more and more people will begin to follow and resist the law as well and eventually something bad will happen that the law could have prevented.For example there has been occasions where people are speeding or not obeying the driving laws and when they are confronted by an officer of the law they claim to be free inhabitants which they claim gives them an immunity to most laws …show more content…
I completely agree with this statement as it mean what i am trying to convey.If you do not agree with a law that is meant to protect the peoples mental and physical state then that could qualify the person who doesn't agree as a terrorist of sorts if they processed in breaking the law.The way society works is if a majority of the people do something then it is highly probable that many people will follow since no one wants to standout.So if this is the case then if a group of be it a popular well know person where to peacefully resist then it can be expected the more people will follow and if many people are breaking the law or "peacefully resisting then its can be assumed that the society of people are being negatively effected.Another example people that "peacefully resist" that law are feminists.Feminists now a days are using an age old cause in order to support their newly developed twisted ideals that are not the same ideal that feminism was originally created for.This new wave of feminism is more extreme and the people do not fully obey all the laws claiming that it is for a cause, there for it is not a direct violation and if anything peacefully fighting for their beliefs.In conclusion it is very obvious that if someone is the break the law under any circumstances or under any fake name then it is going to negatively impact people and if it is a big enough crime one person could dramatically decrease the free society
It is largely understood that laws are put in place for the good of the communities which they govern. Laws are meant to reflect the wishes of the people and the general consensus is that as a result, these laws should be followed without question. In reality this is not always the case. There are often laws worth questioning whether it be for convenience, personal gain, or deep personal or moral reasons. A historical connection to the latter would be the protection of Jews from the Nazis during WWII and the Holocaust. Hitler created a document outlining a death penalty for any and all persons who were caught aiding Jews in any way, small or large. Despite this law being enforced with dire consequences for infraction, there were still
On the word of Martin Luther King Jr., “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the
An example can be found where a citizen violated the state law and was sued by the state government. However, if the violation was not prohibited and enforced under the Federal Constitution, he or she could use it as their defense and win the case because the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. This should not encourage anyone to challenge the laws because the example above does not happen a lot of times in our daily life. In addition, laws which are illegal are usually enforced under both federal and state laws (Federal Judicial Center).
I don't think it's right to break the law, no matter what the circumstances are. Breaking the laws is wrong, and people shouldn't think that it's an okay thing to do. If you don't agree with the law, you should try to get in contact with someone high up in the government and explain to them your stance on the issue, and why you believe it needs to be changed, or removed altogether. The laws are in place for a reason, and that is to protect us. American citizens need to start respecting the laws more, and respect those who enforce them.
It is very interesting to see that even though when someone breaks the law in the United States, they will still be protected by that very law. Even as one violates the rights of others, the law will make sure that their rights are protected. It almost seems that has more rights by breaking the law instead of following it. Police are prevented from using extreme force against them and lawyers are at the ready to serve these criminals. Criminals have forfeited their rights when they have violated the rights of others. Why should the law be so intent on protecting their rights, when they have no intent on following the law?
In every society around the world, the law is affecting everyone since it shapes the behavior and sense of right and wrong for every citizen in society. Laws are meant to control a society’s behavior by outlining the accepted forms of conduct. The law is designed as a neutral aspect existent to solve society’s problems, a system specially designed to provide people with peace and order. The legal system runs more efficiently when people understand the laws they are intended to follow along with their legal rights and responsibilities.
According to St. Augustine “an unjust law is not a law at all”(p186). This belief has been shared by many influential leaders in the past, including Henry Thoreau, Mahatma Ghandi, and Martin Luther King. They all believed in a non-violent approach to solving their social grievances. In most cases their approach was successful and was noticed by society and brought about a change in the laws. This nonviolent perspective stems straight from Jesus, who says, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”(p192). Others believe that by being disobedient you are under minding the laws and thus creating chaos within society. But, if unjust laws are not brought into light or under minded, then there will be no change in those laws. Martin Luther King felt there is a misconception of time in that the very flow of time cures all ills. On the contrary, time is neutral and it can be used either destructively or constructively(p190).
History has spoken. The words of the weak started it. Their actions proved it. Disobeying a law is a crime that the offender should be willing to take the punishment for and let his sacrifice be used as a point to rally around to create a just, moral change. Whenever a law is deemed unjust, there is good reason for breaking it to achieve justice. Civil Disobedience will never be legal and those who employ it should be willing to accept the penalty that comes with breaking a law. It has been shown through historic cases, modern examples, and the core values of a democratic society that show Civil Disobedience not only works, but should be used as a tool to demonstrate the moral objectives that are being sought. Considering some laws are unjust and in contradiction with the core beliefs of society, there are certain times when breaking a law is reasonable, but it is by no means encouraged and should be done at the law breakers own risk.
Singer gives two typical arguments in favor of obeying these unjust laws. I will address these arguments one at a time. The first argument says that, "By disobeying [a law] I set an example for others that may lead them to disobey too. The effect may multiply and contribute to a decline in law and order. In an extreme case, it may lead to civil war." (Singer, 297)
Many people believe laws are in place to protect them from danger and each other. Thus inferring they take some sort of control over people's actions. Laws are in place by our government (authority) to control a group of people living in a area together (community) (merriam-webster). These laws should not be broken or a penalty fitting the crime will be given, and those responsible will be sentenced to pay. Although not all laws that are broken are meant to be an act of defilement some are broken to show one's stand on a issue or as solidarity to others. It may be inferred from the actions that Martin Luther King Jr. took that he fought for the rights and the constant injustice he and others lived. King helped move the segregation issue forward by constant battles and by letting his clear, load voice be heard across the nation. As human beings and members of a country with so much to offer, everyone should have a moral obligation to stand up for what they believe in. Fighting injustice in a peaceful and determined way will result in a greater outcome for all.
I think there are always times when disobeying a law is morally justified. "They are sometimes unfair and repressive; common sense, social custom, and religion already provide enough guidance; and morality can never be legislated" (Kessler 154). Thoreau argued that any given law is not as high or not above what you believe in or what your conscious tells you is right. "We all have a moral duty to obey our consciences" (Kessler 154). I believe it is very clear how I stand on the subject of civil disobedience. After researching this topic and formulating my own opinions I have learned a great deal about my morals and myself. It simply shocks me when I think of the accomplishments of people like King, Gandhi, and Thoreau.
Laws are sometimes weird and silly, people break laws all the time while they don’t even realize it. In Alabama it is illegal to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time. Considering this, it is right to disobey the law when one’s conscience dictates him or her to do so as demonstrated by Dr. King, Nelson Mandela, and Henry David Thoreau. These historical men used the idea of unity, freedom, and peace to explain their messages across.
A controversial issue regarding the law has been whether it is ever right to disobey the law. Some people would argue that it is not always morally wrong to disobey the law. From this perspective, laws that are considered immoral or unfair hinder society through unnecessary restrictions. However, others argue that it is never right to disobey the law. Socrates, who maintains this view, discusses the issue of obeying laws in Crito by Plato, arguing that a citizen “[has] undertaken, in deed if not in word, to live [their] life as a citizen in obedience to us [the Laws]” (271). According to this view, obeying the law is a citizen’s duty, and a person who is not obedient to the law fails to fulfill his duty. In sum, the issue is whether disobedience of the law is moral or immoral.
In the previous paper, I discussed the phenomenon of jaywalking, particularly the “jaywalking culture” around UW Seattle campus. My observation is that, in a group setting, pedestrians are more likely to illegally cross the intersection if others jaywalk. Next, the questions to ask are: Why do people jaywalk? What are some other implications of this disobedient behavior? In “Jaywalking as a Function of Model Behavior” (1990), Brian Mullen, Carolyn Copper and James E. Driskell offered some explanations as means of understanding jaywalking and its effects in a social setting. They conducted meta-analysis on seven studies of jaywalk that included four experiment models: high-status obedient model, high-status disobedient model, low-status obedient model, and low-status disobedient model. By comparing various data, the conclusion came to be while both obedient models and disobedient models impact the frequency of jaywalking, disobedient models obtain greater social influence on fellow pedestrians than obedient models (Mullen et al. 1990). Besides the “antinormative” action itself, two other variables also help construct the phenomenon: the status of the walker and the size of cities (Mullen et al. 1990).
I believe it is acceptable and even right to break an unjust law. This is because the law is not fair or right. Laws are supposed to bring justice and if a law cannot bring justice, then breaking it is just and right. For example, laws that go aga...