Civil Disobedience: Should We Obey The Law?
Should we obey the law? Following the rules is something that is often emphasized from a very young age. However, there are cases when choosing to break the rules is the right thing to do. It is sometimes necessary to disobey the law. Civil disobedience, or refusing to obey the law to protest peacefully, has been one of the most effective ways of changing government policies. In many cases throughout history, fairer societies have been created after laws were challenged. For example, American colonists protested against British taxes by refusing to pay them. This eventually led to the founding of the United States. Colonists went against the law to improve their way of living and end an unfair tax. They were able to initiate change and spark
a revolution by refusing to comply with the rules placed upon them by Britain. Similarly, in the 1960s, sit-ins became a common way of peacefully protesting segregation in the U.S. By disobeying the law, protesters were able to effect change, and eventually restaurants abandoned segregation. In this case, if laws had not been broken, racial equality could have taken many more years, or even never have been achieved at all. Noncompliance had been necessary to cause change. Laws are not always morally right. To illustrate, during World War II in Nazi Germany, laws were created so that the persecution of Jews was completely legal. However, allowing for the persecution of any group, especially one the scale of the Holocaust is completely immoral. The law is not the final say in what is right and wrong. It is up to the people to decide what is morally right. Furthermore, laws can limit and infringe upon people’s freedom. For instance, it is illegal for atheists to hold office in at least six states in the U.S. This law directly violates the Constitution and discriminates against atheists. In this case, it is necessary and justifiable to disobey a law that is unconstitutional. Laws such as these are meant to be broken and rewritten to protect human rights and freedom.
Laws are made so that there is a certain standard of behavior and a definition of right and wrong. However, laws can be unfair or unjust. In many cases, by refusing to obey the law, we can cause change and improve government and society.
a revolution by refusing to comply with the rules placed upon them by Britain. Similarly, in the 1960s, sit-ins became a common way of peacefully protesting segregation in the U.S. By disobeying the law, protesters were able to effect change, and eventually restaurants abandoned segregation. In this case, if laws had not been broken, racial equality could have taken many more years, or even never have been achieved at all. Noncompliance had been necessary to cause change. Laws are not always morally right. To illustrate, during World War II in Nazi Germany, laws were created so that the persecution of Jews was completely legal. However, allowing for the persecution of any group, especially one the scale of the Holocaust is completely immoral. The law is not the final say in what is right and wrong. It is up to the people to decide what is morally right. Furthermore, laws can limit and infringe upon people’s freedom. For instance, it is illegal for atheists to hold office in at least six states in the U.S. This law directly violates the Constitution and discriminates against atheists. In this case, it is necessary and justifiable to disobey a law that is unconstitutional. Laws such as these are meant to be broken and rewritten to protect human rights and freedom.
Laws are made so that there is a certain standard of behavior and a definition of right and wrong. However, laws can be unfair or unjust. In many cases, by refusing to obey the law, we can cause change and improve government and society.