In Martin Luther King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" we learned how Mr. King and his many supporters used the laws and the hatred of others to benefit their cause, a just cause, righting unjust laws without breaking any real laws. In the writing, "On The Duty of Civil Disobedience." by Thoreau, we learned how he felt about the need for a government, such as it was, and how we as law abiding citizens unwittingly become accomplices in the injustices caused by the government. He refers to his night in jail, the reason for it, and how we have an obligation to break unjust laws. The two men have very similar views on the subject of just laws and unjust laws, but each goes about dealing with the problem of injustice differently.
“Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law… (14th Amendment).” Originally considered a reconstruction amendment, the 14th addition gave way to much controversy among the free world. Questions arose and the choices of man were now under the magnifying glass of those sacred words. In Thomas Mullen’s The Last Town on Earth, a sequence of inevitable choices revolving the town’s fate versus the soldiers’ fates command multiple characters to refuel the boundless argument between right and wrong regarding the issue of human rights. The opening of the novel is not hesitant to the idea of dramatic consequence when choices are made. As the flu of 1918 raged throughout the country and deepened its roots within the Northwest; the residents of Commonwealth are forced to make a decision that will judge the fate of their Washington based society.
In other words, elicit an emotion. “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” The words “painful,” and “oppressed,” are parallel to the sense of equality and partnership King is writing to achieve. The emotional value portrayed, in addition to the literal meanings of these words, brings a feeling of inclusivity. “Freedom is never voluntarily given… it must be demanded…” In this statement, Martin Luther King Jr. is calling his reader to action. His combination of conjuring phrases act like a volcanic eruption of response.
Opponents of civil disobedience see it as a threat to democratic society and the forerunner of violence and anarchy. The premise... to disobey a law that they feel is unjust. As martin luther king Jr. , wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that his conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law. " Civil disobedience is most justifiable when prior lawful attempts to rectify the situation have failed; and when the acts of civil disobedience are done to force the society to recognize the problem; when performed openly and publicly; and when the actor will accept the punishment. Many proponents urge that civil disobedience be used only in the most extreme cases, arguing that the Constitution provides many opportunities to voice one's grievances without breaking the law.
George Elliot, an English novelist stated “it is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view” (qtd. in Goodreads). Tony Alamo, a manipulative preacher, is a prime example of a narrow-minded individual. In his article, “Taking Sides”, he claims, “it is the responsibility of honest and upright adults to weed out the novels that would damage children”. He continues his claim that the works of well-known authors such as Shakespeare and Hemingway should be banned from American Culture.
Injustice in the Judicial System When the criminal court system was established its intent was to punish the guilty in a humane way and to set the innocent free. From personal experience I have learned that the court system is not about innocence or guilt. The court system is about whom you know and money, usually forcing most people into an involuntary plea. In “Criminal Justice,” it states that, “ the most important real - world fact about our criminal justice system is that a person accused of crimes enjoy no advantages, no matter how many rights the courts and legislatures have apportioned them. For the overwhelming majority of cases, they have no opportunity to exercise any of their rights- instead , these right are plea-bargained away” (64) First of all if you don’t have friends in high places i.e.
This version can be seen as much less complex than Sophocles’ version, although the characters still face the same issues from their past. In the original Sophocles, Creon is adamant in his conviction of Antigone and he refuses to yield to any means. He is viewed as more of a tyrant than an uncle. But in Anouilh’s version, his character is much more lenient and forgiving. Despite the absurd actions that Antigone puts everyone through without any regard for the law, Creon still reasons with her.
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
Even though advocates claim that the Patriot Act helps to protect the national security, the Patriot Act is unjust. In the writing “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., he discusses the just laws and unjust laws. “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust” (par. 14).
But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.” Violence only causes bitterness and hatred, I believe our society cannot survive this. I have never been one to use violence to get my point across it seems useless and morally wrong to me. Violence gets you nowhere. I do know some people that that is their only way to deal with problems and that seems to get them nothing positive. I believe King is right when he states “An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind”.