He references documents such as the United States Constitution and The Declaration of Independence as grounds for his arguments against the “Taylor Machine”. Holding the ideals that he was raised upon is how Jefferson Smith demonstrates the same idea of civil disobedience that Thoreau refers to. Senator Paine was oblivious to the strong heart and mind of Jefferson Smith. I believe that Smith was looked down upon and maybe even considered an imbecile due to his lack of knowledge about political affairs. Had Paine known of his plans to build a facility near Willet Creek then he surely would not have allowed him to be sworn in.
Examples like “Examination day” supports this because the government stays in power by having strict laws which limit citizens intelligence. The Giver supports the claim because the government limits citizens knowledge by wiping memories and limiting their emotions. “Harrison Bergeron” supports the claim because the government there controls society through strict rules which limit uniqueness so they are “average”. With all this evidence and analysis we will ask this question, do people really want a government that controls society and do the horrible things stated above or should our goal be to help citizens and have a government that doesn’t restrict
Like mentioned above, the literati were a group of scholars who truly believed man was good-natured and if left to their own wills would prove to be trustworthy and generous on their own. The literati represented the voices of merchants and farmers whose interests had been infringed on by the state’s monopolies (You, 2010). As such, the literati debated on why the market was not equitable and why the government should not be involved in such affairs. On the other hand, you had the Legalists who believed the people were evil and so put into place harsh laws to control them. They also wanted to keep the policies to fund the armies and keep the treasuries full, even if it meant the people would go into poverty.
This essay will explain and analyze two essays by individuals who express entirely different opinions of civil disobedience. In his essay, “Civil Disobedience: Destroyer of Democracy”, Lewis H. Van Dusen strongly discourages the use of civil disobedience as a means for change. He feels that this act of disobedience directly contradicts our democratic system. The other individual being compared in this essay is Henry David Thoreau; who in his essay, “Civil Disobedience”, supports the act of peacefully challenging or protesting unjust laws. He impugns us to do what is morally right, and to not be afraid to take a stand against injustice.
A man has an obligation to act according to the commands of his conscience, even if it goes against majority opinion, the reigning leadership, or the laws of society. In cases where the government supports unjust laws Thoreau's idea of service to one's country ironically takes the form of resistance against it. Resistance is the highest form of patriotism because it demonstrates a desire not to overthrow government but to build a better one in the long term. Thoreau just wants to eliminate the ideas that make it a bad government not the entire government itself. Thoreau then talks about the issue of change through democratic ways.
Independent Counsel Robert Ray found circumstantial evidence of perjury, tax evasion and obstruction of justice. He chose not to prosecute because he doubted he could secure convictions. In the final report, Ray denounced Clinton's attempt to label the entire process "bogus" -- historians should be more judicious,
Antigone knows that by the law of the gods leaving a body uncovered is morally unjust. Martin Luther King addresses this very issue in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Although it was written 2,000 years later, it speaks to a similar topic, which civil disobedience. “An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (King 3). Antigone’s actions follow along with King’s four steps towards civil disobedience although there are differences because of the eras. Antigone responds to Creon’s edict with civil disobedience as King
It is clear that people do not abide by the laws regarding to alcohol consumption and that shows their lack of respect for this law so what’s stopping people from loosing respect for other laws and in consequence not following them? When laws are put in place but they are difficult or near impossible to enforce it causes a loss of respect by the members of society. Albert Einstein is correct in saying that “nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced”. In conclusion there is no point in making a law which cannot be
Summary Response-Letter from the Birmingham Jail In this letter, Martin Luther King Jr. describes the current states of injustice and inequality that plague the Negro community during this time as he is writing from his jail cell. He writes to his fellow supporters and brothers and explains the reasons for being in Birmingham in the first place were because he felt it was necessary to protest injustice everywhere. Communities such as Birmingham were known to observe segregation laws that isolated black people from white people and in his opinion were classified as unjust laws. He claims to be a supporter of just laws and a non-violent protestor of unjust laws in which violate human morals and dignity. By citing references of protest such as Jesus Christ, St. Paul, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, he justifies his current actions for the Negro community and states that he is willing to face the consequences when it comes to protesting for equal rights amongst all Americans.
On the other hand, bystanders in distinguished works that exemplify silence and un-humanlike characteristics are townspeople in “38 People who saw Murder”, Michela in the novel “In the Company of Angels, and Seamus Heaney in the poem “Punishment”. These characters resist the human rights by allowing others to get hurt, sometimes even themselves, without defending their beliefs. The human rights allow people to stand up for what they believe in no matter the damage it will eventually cause them. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail” exemplifies what it means to stand up for oneself no matter the consequences. King defended his belief of human rights for the betterment of society.