Argumentative Essay On Oppression

Hope Castleberry
Mr. Taylor
English III
April 20, 2016
Opposing Oppression “… All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…” Written in the Declaration of Independence, these ideals gave the Founding fathers a reason to split from Britain. A noble idea to believe ourselves as equals to everyone with rights that not be taken away. Yet, some people do not agree with this idea and will try to snuff it out. Throughout history, oppression an issue that takes on many different forms. It can be in the form of a tyrannical king taking away people’s rights to bullying. What should the oppressed do to deal with oppression is the question. People who feel oppressed should retaliate against
Through the use of peaceful resistance, less bitterness is formed and is far more rewarding.” We must keep moving with wise restraint and love and with proper discipline and dignity” (King). The path is difficult and takes lots of patience, and discipline to not to strike back while still loving those doing wrong. “...The nonviolent register does not seek to humiliate or defeat the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding” (King). “The nonviolent resister seeks to attack the evil system rather than the individuals who happen to be caught up in the system” (King). By creating friendships, understanding is gained helping to make a change causing less tensions to be created. There is also the understanding that it is not the people who are to blame but the system. The Civil Rights Movement is a great example of nonviolence resistance, though it was meet with violence. In the Selma to Montgomery march, police attacked protesters with tear gas and wielding clubs. In the Birmingham March, protesters, school children, were attacked by police with clubs, fire hoses, and police dogs (Civil Rights Movement). The contrast between the peaceful protesters and the brutality they meet from the police lead more people to sympathize with the protestors. By creating friends and understanding, problems later on are less likely to
While the use of violence is one way to go, nonviolence is the better path. There has to be reasonable idea on why one would want to retaliate like to improve one's wellbeing and in a sense a moral duty. Violence is a quick solution, but it can very easily switch the role of the oppressed to the oppressors. Through the use of patience and love of nonviolent resistance, it can help make a change for the better. There has never been a time where someone was either oppressed or is the oppressor. It is simply a matter of how to deal with it. Chose from either being submissive and just wait for someone else to fix it or raise and take a stand. Use violence for quick results yet make more enemies. Or have the patience and stick it out with nonviolence. Oppression can be shown in many different ways. It can be as small as bullying to as large as an oppressive government. The question is depending on the situation what choice should be taken. Though there is merit in any of the choices, it should not just be ignored or be someone else's problem. Stand up and help end this never-ending evil. Though not through violence, but with peace and making friends with each other. In addition, may be one day, we can create a better world where we will all be seen as equals, not