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An essay on civil disobedience
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Assignment #8 Civil disobedience is a main focus of discussion in chapter six of James Rachels’ The Elements of Moral Philosophy; this can be defined as a usually peaceful, but powerful act of protest against a law or demand from the government. Normally when one would non-violently refuse to obey a certain law, they would see that the law was unjust to them. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a prime example of this act of disobedience, and said, “The end justifies the means, even though the means are regrettable.” He however did not question the legitimacy of the American government but rather the particular laws that he and others felt were unjust. The civil rights movement was started by Dr. King, in which he found that it would be against
Civil disobedience is being disobedient to certain laws in a peaceful, but active manner. So the person who commits civil disobedience must actively rejects to follow certain laws of government and peacefully accept the consequences. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a typical example of modern civil disobedience. He actively rejected to follow
Civil disobedience is the refusal to follow or demand laws or rules. Taking a stand on issues of justice in society may be important or redundant to many individuals. In my case, taking a stand on issues of justice is important. Individuals take a stand on justice so they can change issues, speak for people who can’t speak for themselves, and fight for what they believe in.
Civil disobedience is usually thought to be an “illegal activity undertaken to protest laws that
“...It becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another (person)...” Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence. Civil disobedience is when you exercise the right of the people and protest peacefully against the government. As we read in Jefferson’s writing, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi’s. According to our great writers civil disobedience builds a great framework to promote change.
Civil disobedience, is often the last step that people take to bring attention to a topic or subject that they feel strongly about. Every day is full of unjust rulings that may not be to everyone’s liking. Many people fight for what they believe in even if the outcome is bleak. You are your own self and you will always have your opinion that may not match all other citizen’s. Civil disobedience has escalated to a majority of non- violent protesting, although there are some cases including violence. It is a form of rebelling against what they feel is unfair or unconstitutional. Showing civil disobedience is an act that you must be willing to accept the legal consequences, which may include incarceration.
The definition of civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands for the purpose of influencing legislation or government policy, characterized by the employment of such nonviolent techniques as boycotting, picketing, therefore nonpayment of taxes. Civil Disobedience is a type of action that involves the public following an important figure trying to forewarn the authorities of the intended action they plan on bringing change to certain laws or government policies. Anyone who participates or encourages others in civil disobedience are willing to accept the legal consequences of their actions. Throughout history, civil disobedience has proved to be an important mechanism for social change furthermore has helped impact societies and governments. The Boston Tea Party, the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the Suffragette Movement, led by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are all an example in acts of civil disobedience.
Civil disobedience as a whole is often a vague conception; so what is it exactly? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something.” This is often seen as protesting. Civil disobedience occurs throughout the world; the United States, India, Hong Kong, South Africa (practiced inconsistently), Japan, and many other countries. Each country has its own laws and rights vary, but on a basic level a lot of countries have freedom of speech. One specific example is in the United States Constitution; the First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This basically states that denizens of the United States have the right to protest, as well as freedom of speech and freedom...
Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks portrayed cases in which civil disobedience is justified. These people go against the law is some way to do what they believe is right. They risk the chance of being punished for, not only themselves, but others too. Without these acts of civil disobedience, others would not feel that it is okay to speak up for their beliefs. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (Tag). Do not be afraid to stand up for what it right and against what is unjustified. It is a big responsibility to go against the law but in the end, it could very much be worth
Civil disobedience, in a general sense, is when a group of people come together to protest inequality or political decisions of a higher authority. Civil disobedience has been seen throughout the world ever since a governmental type system was devised. The reasons why people enact civil disobedience are extensive but John Locke’s explains The Second Treatise of Government, why civil disobedience even exists and what stimulates
Civil disobedience is an active resistance to an unjust law found in a society. This purposeful violation of a law has influenced many changes in societies throughout history and around the world. Some view civil disobedience as having a negative impact on a free society with resistances disturbing the normal order of their lives, but actually the protests are only making the world a better, more equal place for everyone living there. Civil disobedience also establishes the idea that change can take place and be effective with the absence of violence.
Civil disobedience is the act of opposing a law one considers unjust and peacefully disobeying it while accepting the consequences. The courageous souls that have chosen to partake in civil disobedience have shaped our society today. If it wasn’t for them our country would be in a entirely far worse state than it is now. We owe our gratitude to those who sacrificed their safety and freedom to stand up for what was right even when authority said otherwise. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the Civil Rights Movements to The Natives protesting the pipelines at Standing Rock. We as citizens of a nation made for the people can never stop fighting unjust authority.
Civil disobedience to laws is a method of protest that has always been prevalent in free societies and has the power to change the viewpoints of many and bring about change. Peaceful resistance to laws, and whether or not it is a positive or negative method to change, is not black and white or easily determined to be right or wrong. Instead, there are many complications and factors that go into determining the true motives of these movements. However, most of the time, civil disobedience positively impacts societies as it brings issues to the forefront of the media and thusly to the public and aids in battling inequality and fighting for justice.
The argument regarding civil disobedience has been a hotly contested subject ever since the creation of a democratic form of government. The idea that a person can disobey a law and accept the consequences because it violates their moral code has intrigued philosophers and lawmakers for several years. However, I would assert that civil disobedience is beneficial, even essential, for the advancement of free society.
Civil Disobedience, the act of opposing a law one considers unjust and peacefully disobeying it while accepting the consequences, is often used to describe the large Civil Rights Movement of the South from 1954-1968 and some of the recent, largely broadcasted, election riots. The phrase ‘civil disobedience’ which has become increasingly more popular these past few months to describe the protests following the results of the presidential election, is not really following the true peaceful civil disobedience that is intended and was portrayed in the historical movement throughout the South. While the past civil rights movement positively affected our free society, these protests, the new ‘civil disobedience’, are negatively affecting our society today.
The term “civil disobedience” is also known as non-cooperation, resistance, or protest. These words are used in powerful actions and speeches that have a huge impact on our free society. They allow at an individual or group level to express ourselves and what we believe to be right or just. Over the last three decades here in the United States there seems to be trend of increasing unrest within the country. Groups such as the Occupation Movement, Oil Pipeline protests and Tea Party have started small. Undercurrents within a society always seem to be in flux and moving back and forth. The Tea Party though is a great example of something starting small and gaining traction that ultimately moved the nation to a more conservative outlook. The other interesting thing is that in prior decades much of civil disobedience happened locally with mass marches. The Internet age allows for a much more passive approach to civil