Premium Essay

Why Is Civil Disobedience Important

Submitted By
Words 518
Pages 3
Civil disobedience can create positive change in society and help persuade change in laws that can help people that may be in worse situations than someone else who should be and equal. Some laws have been made in the past that have made some people feel like they are treated worse than someone else. These kind of laws that are good to resist and try to change and make it so the laws are equal for everyone. These laws are some that needed to be changed and thanks to peaceful resistance they were.
Rosa Parks was a very strong and courageous woman who thought a law was unfair and did not feel that she needed to give up her seat on a bus for a white person. She decided that she would not get up for someone and she ended up getting arrested for …show more content…
It would not be my first reaction because it is wrong to break the law and there are other ways that you can get consideration to change a law into your favor and it could benefit most people. I believe not all laws that you do not like should be broken using civil disobedience then everyone who disagrees with a law, even though it is for the majority, would be breaking laws. This could create chaos and many people could get hurt from someone being inconsiderate. These people should be arrested because civil disobedience should be used for laws that are hurtful to others and not just something you disagree …show more content…
This is wrong to do and selfish and should not be done for any reason. If you use violence in something that is truly wrong it will only bring bad publicity to the cause and may give people more of a reason to agree with this law. Breaking laws is a bad thing to do in most cases but in a few cases it is. Many times a law is made without the consideration of all people and it may cause problems. People may think that the law is something that should not exist and will want to protest or break this law and in many cases it is for the better of society. Breaking laws is not always the right thing to do but in some cases civil disobedience is

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Henry David Thoreau's On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience

...made of immigrants, but couldn't it be said that it was founded by civil disobedience? When the founding fathers sent the Declaration of Independence to King George, they were preparing for the ratifications of the document. The founding fathers were preparing for any of King George’s reactions to the document so it could be categorized as civil disobedience and defying the crown. The United States was built on civil disobedience and still to this today continues to be shaped by it; without it the United States would not exist. Civil disobedience is carved into early United States history, like cave man paintings are to human kind. Another, act of civil disobedience in which that shaped our country very early was the Boston Tea Party. King George forced the stamp act upon the colonies, and the colonies did not wish to pay the tax (to pay fund King George’s wars;) so in this famous historical event (a prime...

Words: 573 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Civil Disopbeidence

...30 April 2013 Civil Disobedience When should civil disobedience be justified? Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to obey government laws, in an effort to bring upon a change in governmental policy or legislation. Civil disobedience is not an effort to dissolve the American government, because without government our society would result in chaos. Sometimes, when there is an unjust law and the government won't take the initiative to fix it, the public must act as civil disobedient to bring awareness and fix the unjust law. There have been times when citizens have felt the need to revolt against the government because of an issue that is unjust. There were such cases during the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau made such actions to prove their point. Civil disobedience is justified when its goal is to obtain equal rights and service for everyone, without causing physical damage to people and their property, and without breaking the just laws that are already enforced. It should only be practiced when the government fails to uphold justice and fix laws that don't allow everyone the equal rights already given to some. In his essay, "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau wrote in 1849 after spending a night in the Walden town jail for refusing to pay a poll tax that supported the Mexican War. He recommended passive resistance as a form of tension that could lead to reform of unjust laws practiced by the government. He voiced civil disobedience as "An expression...

Words: 1384 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Civil Disobedience: What Is Morally Wrong?

...peaceful manner, it is known as civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is a nonviolent protest against something we deem unfit. Most of the time, people will protest against a certain law that they don’t agree with. Now, we have to first understand where law itself comes from. The laws that we have placed in this day and age are based largely off of human morality. Our morals; which stop us every day from doing things such as murdering and stealing are taken and translated to a legal tenet. The problem with this is...

Words: 552 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Peaceful Resistance To Civil Disobedience

...I believe that peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. It allows conscience and morals to govern a free society and allows for a country to positively evolve. The founding fathers created the United States through a revolution, standing against the injustice of the British towards them. The birth of our nation serves as an example of why peaceful resistance is important maintaining an effective and moral government. Civil disobedience allows conscience and morals to govern a free society, not the ideals of the majority. As Thoreau stated in his essay, Civil Disobedience, “a majority are permitted…to rule…not because they are most likely to be right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are...

Words: 689 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Civil Disobedience Bedau Analysis

...When it comes to the pretention of Civil Disobedience and what can be seen as acts of indirect and direct civil disobedience. H.A. Bedau and Henry David Thoreau come to mind because of how they both saw things in different light but at a meaningful level they both thought the same about the government even through they expressed there ideals in completely different ways. Their ideas cross on many different paths as to which even Bedau talks about Thoreau in his essay in regards to being “responsible” for your actions. The main premise of Bedau’s argument in his essay of “civil disobedience and personal responsibility for justice” is to compare the idea of what is civil disobedience and who is responsible for the actions. Bedau spends a great...

Words: 1883 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Antigone

...Civil disobedience is the act of refusal against laws, taxes, or demands by a government usually staying peaceful in nature. Martin Luther King Jr. and Antigone implement civil disobedience to defy unjust law; however, both approaches used to go against the wrong laws are different. Martin Luther King Jr. became the leader for the civil rights movement to put an end to segregation through civil disobedience by stressing the importance of peacefully protesting; while Antigone purposely went against the law, knowing the consequences, to follow God’s law instead of man-made law in a holy effort to bury her late brother Polyneices. Martin Luther King Jr. goes against unjust laws through civil disobedience by initiating peaceful protests. He believed that using nonviolent tactics are better at showing the immorality the unjust laws’ and calls for black people to fight the long battle against segregation. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, he reveals the unjust treatment going on in Birmingham and why it is important for him to be there helping, “Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already...

Words: 1102 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Ld Debate

...- 2 – The LD File Civil Disobedience Index Topic Overview 3-7 Definitions 8-10 Affirmative Cases 11-19 Negative Cases 20-25 Affirmative Extensions 26-34 Civil disobedience worked to free India. 26 Civil disobedience overthrew the communists in Poland. 26 The tradition of civil disobedience in America goes all the way back to the founders. 26 Civil disobedience can serve to prevent situations from escalating into violence. 27 Civil Disobedience has been used to promote peace. 27 Civil disobedience was used to promote racial equality. 27 Civil disobedience is used to try to prevent the destruction of the environment. 27 Civil disobedience is effective at changing the law. 28 Legal channels can take too long. 28 Consent to obey just laws does not imply consent to obey unjust ones. 28 Distinguishing between just and unjust laws to disobey can be universalized. 28 Civil disobedience can be stabilizing to a community by spreading a shared sense of justice. 29 Sometimes it is only the unjustified response to civil disobedience that has harmful consequence. 29 Civil disobedience is traditionally non-violent. 29 Civil disobedience is a form of exercising free speech- which is essential in a democracy. 30 Civil disobedience has been used to fight slave laws 30 Civil disobedience played a role in ending the Vietnam war. 30 Civil disobedience shouldn’t be punished-...

Words: 18413 - Pages: 74

Free Essay

Morals Versus Laws in the Eyes of King

...of segregation and inequality between the blacks and whites. One man did everything in his power to get equal rights for the races until it eventually killed him, literally. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who dedicated his entire life striving towards African American equality. Without using violence, King fought hard and strong for what he believed in, and was passionate about, which was civil disobedience, that is defined as a peaceful form of protest. Practicing civil disobedience addressing his demands for racial equality landed Martin Luther King, Jr. a spot in Birmingham Jail. The incarceration resulted in a large amount of free time which he used to complete a lengthy letter addressing the clergymen who criticized his actions, calling them untimely and unwise. These criticisms did not sit well with King and therefore, he formulated “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” Although long winded, Martin Luther King, Jr. uses repetition, in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to his benefit, in addition with ethos and pathos to sway his audience and develop his reasons for his civil disobedience. Ending at an astounding eleven pages, Martin Luther King, Jr. covers a great amount of information throughout “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. The length of this letter most likely was due to the fact he was locked in a cell with nothing better to occupy himself with, King admitted himself, in the last page of the letter, “Never before have I written so long a letter” followed by, “...

Words: 1173 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Research Process and Terminolgy Paper

...Ethical Scrapbook Part II Rosieanna Smith-Lee, April Chiofalo Johnson, Eddie Little, Inez Gonzales, Melody Kibbe CJA/324 June 2, 2014 Instructor Angela J. Sonsalla Ethical Scrapbook Part II Clearly for one to understand and practice ethical behaviors, they must know what ethics means. Ethics is a set of standards that informs individuals how they should behave in every aspect of our lives. Because ethics involves seeing the differences between right and wrong, an individual must make a commitment to do what is right by any means necessary. Ethics is not just doing what an individual must do but also doing what an individual should do. Many individuals failed to realize when they perform unethical behaviors there is a price to pay and not taking the time to think things through before they act may cost them their livelihood as well as damage their credibility and character. However, practicing good ethics can result in one gaining respect integrity among the individuals one interacts with daily. Because all individuals are different and not one individual thinks or view things the same, it easy to determine that as it relates to ethics each individual may have different viewpoints. This ethical scrapbook explored 12 examples related to ethical and unethical values and morals as a team to determine what examples we agreed on and what examples we did not agree on as well as allowed the team to discuss what the disagreement...

Words: 2846 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Nationalism in Europe

...1. Namethe French artist who made a series of paintings visualizing his dreams of democracy republic? Ans. Frederic Sorrieu 2. What had the French artist visualized as world made of democratic social republics? Ans. In 1848, Frederic Sorrieu, a French artist, prepared a series of four prints visualizing his dream of a world made up of ‘democratic and social Republics’, as he called them. In Sorrieu’s utopian vision, the peoples of the world are grouped as distinct nations, identified through their flags and national costume. Leading the procession, way past the statue of Liberty, are the United States and Switzerland, which by this time were already nation-states. France, identifiable by the revolutionary tricolour, has just reached the statue. She is followed by the peoples of Germany. Following the German peoples are the peoples of Austria, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary and Russia. 3. What are absolutist’s regimes? Ans. Literally, a government or system of rule that has no restraints on the power exercised is known as an absolutist regime. In history, the term refers to a form of monarchical government that was centralized, militarized and repressive. 4. What is a utopian society? Ans. A vision of a society that is so ideal that it is unlikely to actually exist 5. What is a plebiscite? Ans. A direct vote by which all the people of a region are asked to accept or reject a proposal 6. What was the concept of European...

Words: 9605 - Pages: 39

Premium Essay

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter To Birmingham Jail

...Union’s victory in the Civil War. This lead to several individuals, like Martin Luther King Jr., to stand up for their Civil Rights through civil disobedience. This ultimately lead King into jail where he would write this letter. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter to Birmingham Jail” served to show the white church leaders, as well as the public, why his actions are just and why they should avoid criticizing what he’s trying to accomplish through...

Words: 686 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Legal Philosphy

...OUTLINE CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION A. Introductory Statement B. Statement of the Problem C. Significance of the Study D. Theoretical Framework E. Scope and Limitation F. Review of Related Literature CHAPTER TWO: JOHN RAWLS PHILOSOPHY A. Biography of John Rawls CHAPTER THREE: PHILIPPINE TAXATION A. Concept of Taxation B. Nature of Taxation and Its purpose C. Concept of Income Taxation D. Purpose of Taxation E. Current Uses of Taxation CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIAL JUSTICE IN TAXATION A. Social Justice B. Principles of Justice C. Well Ordered Society D. Original Position E. Veil of Ignorance F. Civil Disobedience CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION A. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT The works of John Rawls was basically centered on justice as depicted on his work “Theory of Justice” and “Political Liberalism. John Rawls is considered to be one of the most influential philosophers during his time as he specialized in the concept of justice and fairness as a tool for attaining social justice in the society. His works received various criticisms since it may be viewed as unrealistic but though it may be criticized, his works are one of the influential and most bought book and already translated in various language to be used as curriculum in philosophy classes. Rawls differentiate the concept of justice and fairness as he tried to show that the idea of justice is fairness and...

Words: 13013 - Pages: 53

Premium Essay

论文Aaa

...Thesis Statement: Henry David Thoreau is one of the pioneers of Transcendentalism, and his famous work, Civil Disobedience has great effect on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology and movement which drives the India for independence. Outline 1. Introduction 1. Brief introduction of Henry David Thoreau 2. Brief introduction of Mahatma Gandhi 2. Writing background and cores of Civil Disobedience 2.1 Writing background 2.2 Cores of Civil Disobedience 2.2.1 Conscience of human 2.2.2 Effect of morality 2.2.3 Suspicion of American’s democracy 2.3.4 In-cooperation with government 3. Embodiment on Mahatma Gandhi 3.1 Effect on Gandhi’s ideology 3.1.1 Works of Gandhi 3.1.2 Speeches of Gandhi 3.2 Effect on Gandhi’s movement 3.2.1 Gandhi in South Africa 3.2.2 Gandhi in India 4. Conclusion 1. Introduction 1.1 Brief introduction of Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was one of the most famous writers, naturalist, philosophers, abolitionists, and the pioneers of Transcendentalism in America in 19 century. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, 1817. Thoreau met Ralph Waldo Emerson when he studied in university. And he was deeply influenced by Emerson who advocated that man should be true to himself and close to nature. Emerson was not only a friend but also a teacher to Thoreau. They had edited the journal Sundial together. Thoreau graduated from Harvard College in 1837 and worked as...

Words: 5392 - Pages: 22

Premium Essay

Elizabeth Cady Argumentative Essay On Women's Suffrage

...leaders). Women fighting for suffrage used tactics such as publicity, civil disobedience, and strong leadership in order to achieve social change. To begin, the way women achieved suffrage was through the use of civil disobedience. One example of this is when Susan B. Anthony voted illegally. She, as well as other women, cast her ballot in the 1872 presidential election because of her belief that it was unjust that women were not allowed to vote. In which she was then arrested, tried, and found guilty. However, she refused to pay her fine and served as an inspiration for other women (One Woman, One Vote). Additionally, civil disobedience was used when the National Women’s Party, led by Alice Paul, picketed the White House in 1917. This was an action they were taking for women’s suffrage. They stood in front of the White House holding banners, such as one calling President Woodrow Wilson, “Kaiser Wilson”. This was to show the hypocrisy within his actions of supporting freedom in World War One, yet he did not support women’s freedom or suffrage in his country (Suffragette Banner). The women supported their cause through all weather and through the taunting crowds, and they even picketed during wartime. They were eventually arrested, but even more women began picketing. They continued to fight even when they were being unjustly shut down (Van Garnier). Based on this evidence, one can conclude that civil disobedience aided in gaining women’s suffrage because those who disobey provide...

Words: 1301 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Gandhi

...participate in social and political change without violence. It is a form of social and political change between passive acceptances and armed struggle. Non-violence way to participate in the social and political change is including nonviolent civil disobedience against, acts of civil disobedience or other powerful influence uncooperative antagonistic form; it is similar with pacifism, but it is not pacifism. Since the mid-20th century, nonviolence and civil disobedience become the main form of social change, and it also is respected political and social philosophy. As the practice of social and political change, non-violent has the essence difference with pacifism, it is contrary to the wishes of the oppressed, and it struggle with any injustice and power political. In my final paper, I will instruction three famous Non-violence movement leader: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela; and also I will compare the similar and difference between them. Mahatma Gandhi was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in Britishruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. A very important turning point in Gandhi’s life is he arrived in South Africa to work as a legal representative for the Muslim Indian traders based in the city of Pretoria when he was 24. In South Africa he faced the discrimination directed at colored people,...

Words: 1504 - Pages: 7