Mlk Essay Reflection

384 Words2 Pages
Name: Bionca Wilson Date: February 15. 2012 Class: English 1102; MWF 11-11:50 am Question: How does King define an unjust law? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Martin Luther King Jr. clearly defines an unjust law as “a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” (King 89). He further explains it as, in the terms of Saint Thomas Aquinas, “a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law... Any law that degrades the human personality is an unjust law” (King 89). Personally, I agree with both King and Aquinas. An unjust law is any law that is morally wrong and includes the suffering of a minority. Any law that contradicts our constitution is nothing but an unjust law. We, as people, are said to be created equal. We are supposed to have equal rights and opportunities. Is it not wrong that we are taught to be equal, but are raised to feel inferior to another race or sex or religion? If we are in fact created equally, then isn’t it unlawful to go against what we are said to be? I would agree that anything that degrades human rights or makes a minority feel less equal than everyone, and then it’s wrong. Everyone should have an equal opportunity. Though segregation has ended, there are many situations that still occur today because one group feels more powerful than the other. Sometimes the case is true that group is powerful than the other, but power shouldn’t be abused nor justified when a person’s actions are morally wrong. King also says that, “An unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts on a minority that is not binding on itself” (King 89). Basically, if you expect a minority to do something and it is not something you would do, then it is unjust. It is definitely unjust if the minority took no part in agreeing to do it; if the minority had no opportunity to take part in it. King gives us a few examples of unjust laws that all tie back to
Open Document