testifying before the court of law against the illegal practices your company is doing. It could also be refusing to take of your scarf because it is against your customs. Civil disobedience is a right that every citizen has, that’s why every citizen is allowed the freedom of speech and protest in every democratic country. I sometimes tend to suspect civil disobedience a lot because it might become a selfish act for fame. It is a well known fact that is not good to give a human all your trust. However, civil disobedience has affected so many changes in the world. Take for example, the works of the well famous Nelson Mandela. He used civil disobedience to dismantle the apartheid in South Africa. Also, according to Thoreau in his civil disobedience argument, “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”? In this quote Thoreau makes it known that there can be unjust laws even in the most efficient society and it is our job to persuade them into an effective change. Martin Luther King Jr.
in his letter from Birmingham jail says that an injustice anywhere can lead to injustice everywhere. Which when we look at is very true, if we do not stop an injustice going on in our society then it would become a custom to everyone living in that society. Just like how the German people accepted the anti- Semitic laws that Hitler passed just because no one really persuaded others into putting a stop the madness. Throughout history we have learnt that rioting is not a good way to effect change. When we look at the work of people who carried out civil disobedience, most of them can say that they achieved their goal. Unlike the rioters who mostly ended up being killed or thrown into jail. Civil disobedience has been used by so many leaders and role model in our society to change an unjust law. It is a strategic means of obtaining justice and it is our right to do so, according to Thoreau. Looking through the course of history, peace resistance to unjust laws has really aided in effecting positive change to the society. Many who have used this strategy became well known, I could only hope I get my share of fame from it. I will forever remember that civil disobedience is my right and will not be afraid to use if need
be.