Difference Between Unjust Laws And Civil Disobedience

Is it considered okay to disobey some laws? Does committing civil disobedience actually do any good? Martin Luther King Jr. believed that it was moral to obey just laws and disobey unjust law. “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just law. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” (Jacobus 382). Henry David Thoreau also conveyed this same idea when he said “If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth--certainly the machine will wear out… but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law.” (Jacobus 312). Both of these men believed
We see it in our everyday lives. Thoreau says “Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?” (Jacobus 311-312). With this statement he is acknowledging the fact that unjust laws exist. He poses a question about how people will go about handling the injustice. Should we learn happy with the way things are? Should we wait until we find a way to fix the laws? Should we take action immediately? With is question Thoreau is implying that you should not complain about a problem unless you are willing to take action, no matter the
“An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” (Jacobus 382). By writing this King is saying that you morally owe it to yourself to not follow unjust laws because they are wrong. How can you tell if a law is unjust? The Declaration of Independence states that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal.” (Declaration of Independence par. 2). If a law is not the same for everyone it is unjust. Dr. King stood up for civil rights. Like Thoreau, he was against segregation, but he also stood for a lot more. He addressed labor unions, women’s rights, poverty, an end to war, and much more. (Burris). Many people know that King fought against segregation, but he also fought for a lot more than that. He wanted there to be equality among all people. Even though Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau shared the same ideas about civil disobedience, they did not view it in the same way. King is gentle and peaceful; he wants what’s best for all people, whereas Thoreau is more aggressive and is driven by his distaste for the government. This is clear as you read through both men’s writings. The tone of each work is different. King wanted to make people aware of the problem by showing them the difference between justice and injustice. Thoreau wanted to help turn people towards his